THE LAST MIRACLE. London: T. Werner Laurie, 1906. Octavo, pp. [1-8] [1]-2-320 [note: first leaf is a blank], half title and title leaves printed in green and black, original pictorial black cloth, front and spine panels stamped in orange, olive-green and white, publisher's monogram stamped in orange on rear panel. First edition. Part of a loosely linked trilogy of science fiction novels, the first two being THE LORD OF THE SEA (1901) and THE PURPLE CLOUD (1901). "It is the tale of the final collapse of the traditional churches. It contains some grim scenes, including crucifixions, but it is more political than horrific." - Sullivan (ed), The Penguin Encyclopedia of Horror and the Supernatural, p. 383. Bleiler, Science-Fiction: The Early Years 2028. Clarke, Tale of the Future (1978), p. 32. Locke, A Spectrum of Fantasy, p. 196. Stableford, Scientific Romance in Britain 1890-1950, pp. 80-1. Bleiler (1978), p. 179. Reginald 13026. Morse, The Works of M. P. Shiel Updated (1980), p. 161. Private owner's armorial bookplate affixed to front paste-down. Very light scuffing to surface of front cover (perhaps a bit of insect tracking), else a clean, tight, near fine copy with bright cover stamping and interior remarkably free of the foxing found in most copies of this book. A superior copy of one of Shiel's scarcer titles that is rarely found in nice condition. (#101923).
Price: $750.00
No statement of printing.