(#114195) THE FIEND'S DELIGHT by Dod Grile [pseudonym]. Ambrose Bierce.
THE FIEND'S DELIGHT by Dod Grile [pseudonym].

THE FIEND'S DELIGHT by Dod Grile [pseudonym]. London: John Camden Hotten, n.d. [1873]. Octavo, pp. [1-9] 10-197 [198: blank] [199] [200: blank] + [32]-page publisher's catalogue of books for 1873 inserted at rear, small woodcut vignette on title page, another on page [199], original pictorial brown cloth, front panel stamped in gold and blind, spine panel stamped in gold, rear panel stamped in blind, brown coated endpapers. First edition. Bierce's pseudonymous first book. Presentation copy with inscription by Bierce to Charles Warren Stoddard in the year of publication on the half title page: "Charles Warren Stoddard / with friendliest regards / of -- The Author. / London / Oct. 27, 1873." Stoddard (1843-1909), poet, journalist and travel writer whose best known work was SOUTH-SEA IDYLS (1873), resided in California off and on from 1855 until his death in 1909. "In 1873 he went to Europe as traveling correspondent for the SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE, and in London also served for a short time as secretary to Mark Twain ... A man of great sweetness, kindliness, and gentleness, with a gift for whimsical humor, he is said to have had a wider friendship among literary folk than any one else in his day." - DAB. BAL 1096. Starrett 1 (misdating 1872). Wright (II) 298 (listing the later U.S. edition). Cloth lightly worn at spine ends and corner tips, 18 mm closed split in cloth at bottom edge of outer front joint, a bright, near fine copy. A superior copy of a scarce book seldom found in decent condition and a splendid association copy. Enclosed in a custom quarter morocco slipcase (lightly rubbed). (#114195).

Price: $5,500.00

See more items by
Printing identification statement for this book:
No statement of printing.