Mary Shelley. Frankenstein; or, the Modern Prometheus. London: Henry Colburn and Richard Bentley, 1831.

Price: US$12000.00 + shipping

Condition: Good

Description: "Frankenstein: or, The Modern Prometheus [.bound with. The Ghost-Seer! From the German of Schiller. In two volumes. vol. I], 2 parts in 1 volume". London: Henry Colburn and Richard Bentley, 1831 first illustrated Frankenstein edition (third edition overall). pp. [2], [v] vi-xii, 202; [4] 3-163,[1], series-title (with 'Standard Novels. No IX') to front discarded, engraved frontispiece and engraved additional title-page to first part (Shelley, both partly hand-coloured, browned, spotted and dampstained to lower outer corner), separate title-page to each part, half-title to second part (Schiller), advertisements discarded, occasional minor spots, hinges cracked, contemporary black half calf with gilt decorated raised bands, light brown morocco title label to spine, marbled sides, light wear mostly to head & foot of spine, 8vo (16.1 x 10.2 cm) Sadleir 3734a.9; Wolff 6280a. First Bentley edition of Frankenstein, extensively revised by the author, the third edition overall. Published as the ninth volume in Bentley's Standard Novels series (the volume also containing the first part only of Schiller's The Ghost-Seer), it was also the first illustrated edition, and the first in one volume. Frankenstein was first published in 1818, the second edition appearing in 1823. Frankenstein is one of the rarest and most desirable books to collect.

Seller: Neverland Books, waalre, Netherlands

SHELLEY, Mary. Frankenstein; or, the Modern Prometheus, Revised, Corrected, and Illustrated with a New Introduction by the Author - BOUND WITH - Edgar Huntly: Or, The Sleep Walker. Volume IX of Bentley's Standard Novels series.. London: Henry Colburn & Richard Bentley, 1831., 1831.

Price: US$14000.00 + shipping

Condition: Very Good

Description: FIRST PRINTING OF THE THIRD AND FIRST ILLUSTRATED EDITION. 1 vol., with the engraved frontis and additional engraved title-page, and a new introduction by Mary Shelley, bound with the scarcer "Edgar Huntly" as issued. Bound in contemporary 1/2 tan calf, expertly rebacked, raised bands, two gilt lettered black morocco spine labels, marbled pastedowns, endpapers and edges, hinges fine, head and foot of spine fine, some offsetting to frontis and additional engraved title-page otherwise internally clean and bright, hinges fine, head and foot of spine fine, a VERY GOOD copy in a contemporary binding. Housed in a designer clamshell slipcase of full purple morocco, raised bands, gilt lettered spine, center spine panel with a black morocco onlay depicting Dr. Frankenstein’s castle, the front cover with a black morocco onlay depicting the Monster walking from a graveyard under a dead tree, by Starr Bookworks. All first three printings of "Frankenstein" are scarce. The first printing of the third edition contains the first ever attempt to illustrate the Monster. In her introduction, Shelley contextualizes the creation of her tale: "It proved a wet, ungenial summer, and incessant rain often confined us for days to the house. Some volumes of ghost stories, translated from the German into French, fell into our hands 'We will each write a ghost story,' said Lord Byron; and his proposition was acceded to". "And now, once again, I bid my hideous progeny go forth and prosper".

Seller: D&D Galleries - ABAA, Somerville, NJ, U.S.A.