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Wells, H G. Certain Personal Matters, A Collection of Material, Mainly Autobiographical. Lawrence & Bullen, London (16, Henrietta Street, Covent Garden), 1898.

Price: US$84.47 + shipping

Condition: Very Good

Description: First UK edition. viii, 278pp plus 32pp list of Lawrence & Bullen publications bound in at rear. In green cloth covered boards with gilt lettering and borders (cloth is a little dulled, slightly faded on spine; boards are gently rubbed and rounded at corners and spine tips). Endpapers lightly tanned; remains of a removed bookplate on front paste down; short, closed tear on rear free endpaper; hinges cracked; occasional small, mild marks; previous owner's name on title page. A nice, evocative vintage copy. A collection of 39 essays and other pieces, most of which are sketches and short stories; despite the title, only two seem to describe identifiable events in Wells' life. This is the first UK edition; the volume was first published by William Heinemann the preceding year for distribution in the British colonies. Herbert George (HG) Wells was an English writer, prolific in many genres. He wrote dozens of novels, short stories, and works of social commentary, history, satire, biography and autobiography. His work also included two books on recreational war games. Well-known and respected as a social commentator in his life time, Wells is perhaps best remembered for his pioneering science fiction and futurism works, including The Time Machine and the War of the Worlds. We have many books by and about H G Wells in stock. Please inquire for a discount if considering ordering more than one volume.

Seller: BookAddiction (ibooknet member), Canterbury, United Kingdom

Wells, H. G.. The War of the Worlds. William Heinemann, London, 1898.

Price: US$2200.00 + shipping

Condition: Fair

Description: Octavo. First Edition, with the correct ads at the rear. Publisher's gray cloth, stamped in blind and black on the upper and lower boards as well as the spine; hinges cracked, board edges rubbed, a slight spine lean, some pages roughly opened (no loss to text), faint red staining to the pastedowns where a jacket (?) of some sort (no longer present) was once adhered. Fair only.

Seller: Americana Books, ABAA, Stone Mt, GA, U.S.A.

Wells, H. G.. The War of the Worlds. William Heinemann, London, 1898.

Price: US$2587.50 + shipping

Condition: Very Good

Description: First state variant without publisher's ads. Cloth. viii, 303 pages. Minor wear to binding, spine darkened. Front hinge cracked, a couple of pages have corner creases. A solid copy of this cornerstone of science fiction.

Seller: Magic Carpet Books, Carson City, NV, U.S.A.

[FORGERY] WELLS, H. G.. The War of the Worlds.. William Heinemann, London, 1898.

Price: US$3000.00 + shipping

Description: viii, 303 pp. plus pub. cat. 8vo, publisher's lettered cloth. First edition. Slight foxing to endsheets; a little cocked; spine slightly browned; otherwise a fresh, unworn copy of the uncommon first edition. This copy has a forged presentation inscription by H. G. Wells to W. W. Jacobs on the half-title page.

Seller: Jeffrey H. Marks, Rare Books, ABAA, Rochester, NY, U.S.A.

H. G. Wells. The War of the Worlds. William Heinemann, London, 1898.

Price: US$3118.91 + shipping

Description: The sought after first edition, first impression, of H. G. Well's genre-defining science fiction novel. First edition, first impression, Currey's state (A) with sixteen pages of publisher's adverts to the rear, dated Autumn 1897.Half-title is present.'The War of the Worlds' is one of the most important science fiction novels ever written, first published as a serial in 1897, it is one of the earliest stories about a conflict between humans and extraterrestrials.This impressive and genre-defining novel has never been out of print and as been adapted into many artistic forms; possibly the best known is a radio programme in 1938 by Orson Welles, that supposedly caused a panic among the public listeners who didn't know that the story Welles was telling was fictional.A sought after first edition of one of the most famous science fiction books ever written.Prior owner's ink inscription to the front paste down and recto to the front endpaper, 'C. T. Bohenham'. In the original publisher's cloth binding. Externally, with a torn and worn circulating library label to the front board. Some rubbing and marks to the boards and spine. Light bumping to the head and tail of the spine and to the extremities, causing a couple of small chips to the extremities. Hinges are strained, particularly the front hinge. Prior owner's ink inscription to the front paste down and recto to the front endpaper. Internally, binding is strained in places, most especially between pages 128 and 129, and 192 and 193, and 208 and 209, where gatherings are working loose a little. Pages are bright with some spots and handling marks. Page 7/8 of the adverts are torn and a small amount of loss. Good Only

Seller: Rooke Books PBFA, Bath, United Kingdom

Wells, H. G.. The War of the Worlds. William Heinemann, London, 1898.

Price: US$3600.00 + shipping

Condition: Very Good

Description: First edition, second state with 32 pages of ads following the text. Bound in publisher's original grey cloth lettered in black. Very Good. Light lean to binding. Cloth darkened and soiled, spine toned, front inner hinge slightly exposed.

Seller: Burnside Rare Books, ABAA, Portland, OR, U.S.A.

Wells, H[erbert] G[eorge]. WAR OF THE WORLDS. William Heinemann [1898], London, 1898.

Price: US$4500.00 + shipping

Description: Octavo, pp. [i-vii] viii [1] 2-303 [304: blank], + 16-page publisher's catalogue dated "Autumn mdcccxcvii" inserted at rear, original gray cloth, front cover and spine stamped in black. This book was issued with and without an inserted publisher's catalogue, this copy has the earliest version. An interesting copy with a note in Wells hand affixed to front paste down "To Isidore Ostrer / The Experiment in Descriptive / Economics / (with special reference to / Chapter the Ninth)." Affixed to the front free end paper is a picture of H. G. Wells with Wells signature clipped from the note underneath. Isidore Ostrer is known for running the Gaumont British film company and Baird Television before WW2, he also wrote a book on economics. Affixed to the verso of the front free end paper and the half title page are newspaper clippings from the Daily Herald, dated November 1, 1938 concerning the radio broadcast by Orson Welles and the panic associated with it. Affixed to the verso of the title page, dedication page and verso of the dedication page are newspaper clippings from The Daily Telegraph and Morning Post dated November 1, 1938 with another report on the radio broadcast. The rear free end papers and paste down contain additional newspaper clippings. "The great classic of interplanetary invasion ." - Bleiler, Science-Fiction: The Early Years 2331. ". a forceful, sophisticated novel that remains original, intense, and provocative today." - Survey of Science Fiction Literature V, pp. 2416-23. ". still the most remarkable fantasy of imaginary warfare that has so far appeared in the history of the genre." - Clarke, Voices Prophesying War: Future Wars 1763-3749, p. 86. THE WAR OF THE WORLDS "set the seal on Wells's success. The novel was immediately taken up in Britain and America, and translated into European languages. It has remained popular ever since, spawning many imitations, fathering all invasion-of-earth stories, yet transcending them in the grandeur of its concept." - Bleiler (ed), Science Fiction Writers, p. 27. Filmed twice, the first memorably by George Pal in 1953 and most recently by Stephen Spielberg in 2005. Anatomy of Wonder (1976) 2-164; (1981) 1-173; (1987) 1-105; (1995) 1-105; and (2004) II-1234. Clareson, Science Fiction in America, 1870s-1930s 802. Clarke, Tale of the Future (1978), p. 24. Locke, A Spectrum of Fantasy, p. 228. Locke, Voyages in Space 210. Suvin, Victorian Science Fiction in the UK, p. 75. In 333. Bleiler (1978), p. 205. Reginald 15108. Currey (2002), p. 426. Hammond B5. Wells 14. Wells Society 14. Mild toning to edges of text block, corner tips a bit bruised, spine somewhat darkened, a very good copy with interesting associational material. (30690)

Seller: John W. Knott, Jr, Bookseller, ABAA/ILAB, Laurel, MD, U.S.A.

Wells, H. G.. The War of the Worlds. William Heinemann, London, 1898.

Price: US$5000.00 + shipping

Description: First edition, first state with 16 pages of ads dated Autumn 1897 following the text. viii, 303, [1], 16 pp. Bound in publisher's original grey cloth lettered in black. Very Good, rubbed and grubby cloth, bumped boards, offsetting to endpapers, hinges cracked but holding and a little overopened in places, a few reading smudges, ink number written on prelims "735," tiny corner chips to pages 1 and 7. The classic alien invasion novel that inspired Orson Welles' famous radio broadcast in 1938 as well as films and other adaptations.

Seller: Burnside Rare Books, ABAA, Portland, OR, U.S.A.

Wells, H.G. The War of the Worlds.. William Heinemann, London, 1898.

Price: US$5500.00 + shipping

Description: First edition, first issue of this science fiction cornerstone. Octavo, original grey cloth lettered in black. Currey's state (A) with 16 pages publisher's advertisements at end dated Autumn 1897. In near fine condition, small name to the front free endpaper and title. An exceptional example. "The War of the Worlds is a tour de force whose innumerable fictional offspring include numerous adaptations and homages, by far the most effective of which was Orson Welles’ Mercury Theater radio broadcast of 1938" (Anatomy of Wonder II-1234). Filmed several times, the first in 1953, starring Gene Barry and Ann Robinson and most recently in 2005 film directed by Steven Spielberg, starring Tom Cruise and Dakota Fanning.

Seller: Raptis Rare Books, Palm Beach, FL, U.S.A.

Wells, H.G.. The War of the Worlds. William Heinemann, London, 1898.

Price: US$6000.00 + shipping

Condition: Fine

Description: First Edition, First Printing with the 32 page publisher's advertisement inserted at rear of the book. This copy is SIGNED by H.G. Wells on a laid in signature. A wonderful copy bound in the publisher's ORIGINAL gray cloth. The binding is tight with NO cocking or leaning and the boards are crisp with minor wear to the edges. The pages are clean with NO writing, marks or bookplates in the book. Overall, a beautiful copy SIGNED by the author.

Seller: Magnum Opus Rare Books, Missoula, MT, U.S.A.

WELLS, H. G.. The War of The Worlds.. London: William Heinemann, 1898, 1898.

Price: US$6172.84 + shipping

Description: First edition, first issue of Wells's novel, a foundational work of modern science fiction, in which the author redeploys the conventions of the invasion-scare genre to imagine a force of seemingly invincible Martians. The story was suggested by the author's brother, Frank: the two men were walking "through some particularly peaceful Surrey scenery" when Frank remarked, "suppose some beings from another planet were to drop out of the sky suddenly". The novel is dedicated to Frank with the comment "this rendering of his idea". This is a first issue copy, with the 16-page publisher's catalogue, "Mr. William Heinemann's Autumn Announcements", dated 1897 and headed by New Letters of Napoleon I on the second page. The novel was originally serialized simultaneously in Pearson's magazine in Great Britain and Cosmopolitan magazine in the US, from April to December 1897. Hammond B5; Wells 14; Currey pp. 526-7. Octavo. Original grey cloth, spine and front cover lettered in black, rear cover with publisher's monogram black, edges untrimmed. With 16 pp. of publisher's advertisements at rear. Bookseller's blindstamp to front free endpaper. Spine slightly darkened, cloth a little marked, inner hinges partly cracked but firm, light foxing to endpapers and occasionally to contents, else clean internally: a very good copy.

Seller: Peter Harrington. ABA/ ILAB., London, United Kingdom

WELLS, H. G.. The War of The Worlds.. London: William Heinemann, 1898, 1898.

Price: US$6822.62 + shipping

Description: First edition, first issue, of this foundational work of modern science fiction, in which the author redeploys the conventions of the invasion-scare genre to imagine a force of seemingly invincible Martians. The story was suggested by the author's brother, Frank. The two men were walking "through some particularly peaceful Surrey scenery" when Frank remarked, "suppose some beings from another planet were to drop out of the sky suddenly". The novel is dedicated to Frank with the comment "this rendering of his idea". This is a first issue copy, with the 16-page publisher's catalogue, "Mr. William Heinemann's Autumn Announcements", dated 1897 and headed by New Letters of Napoleon I on the second page. The novel was serialized simultaneously in Pearson's magazine in Great Britain and Cosmopolitan magazine in the US, from April to December 1897. Currey pp. 526-7; Hammond B5; Wells 14. Octavo. Original grey cloth, spine and front cover lettered in black, rear cover with publisher's monogram in black, edges untrimmed. With 16 pp. of publisher's advertisements at rear. Contemporary bookseller's blind stamp of W.H. Smith & Son on front free endpaper. Spine slightly toned, touch of rubbing at extremities, short superficial splits to inner hinges, but firm, browning to free endpapers, minor foxing on outer leaves, small faint damp stain to outer margin of a few gatherings, else generally clean. A very good copy.

Seller: Peter Harrington. ABA/ ILAB., London, United Kingdom

Wells, H.G. The War of the Worlds.. William Heinemann, London, 1898.

Price: US$9800.00 + shipping

Description: First edition, first issue of this science fiction cornerstone. Octavo, original gray cloth lettered in black. Currey's state (A) with 16 pages publisher's advertisements at end dated Autumn 1897. In fine condition. Accompanied by an autograph letter signed by and entirely in the hand of H.G. Wells. On Wells; Spade House Sandgate letterhead, the letter is addressed to Frank Harris and reads in part, "My dear Frank, This is much more to my taste. I think there's the making of a very amusing play here. It's a slight 'play' as plays are usually considered, buy the great thing is that the interest keeps on. Yours, H.G." The recipient, Frank Harris, was an Irish-American editor, novelist, short story writer, journalist and publisher, who was friendly with many well-known figures of his day including H.G. Wells, Oscar Wilde and George Bernard Shaw. Housed in a custom half morocco clamshell box. An exceptional example. "The War of the Worlds is a tour de force whose innumerable fictional offspring include numerous adaptations and homages, by far the most effective of which was Orson Welles’ Mercury Theater radio broadcast of 1938" (Anatomy of Wonder II-1234). Filmed several times, the first in 1953, starring Gene Barry and Ann Robinson and most recently in 2005 film directed by Steven Spielberg, starring Tom Cruise and Dakota Fanning.

Seller: Raptis Rare Books, Palm Beach, FL, U.S.A.