IN THE DWELLINGS OF THE WILDERNESS. New York: Henry Holt and Company, 1904. Octavo, pp. [1-8] [1] 2-184 [185-188: ads], fly leaves at front and rear, two inserted plates with color illustrations by an uncredited artist (perhaps "BS" [Bertha Stuart] who signed the binding and the decorative initials for each chapter), title page printed in red and black, original pictorial tan cloth, front and spine panels stamped in green and white. First edition. "A team of British archaeologists unearths the mummified remains of an Egyptian princess who was said to be possessed by a demon. Her body disappears during the night and, shortly thereafter, a woman as beautiful as any creature created by God or the devil appears to the workers and beckons to them to follow her into the night. Those who do so are never seen again. When, Deane, the leader of the expedition, ventures into the desert in search of one of the missing men, he becomes lost and is blinded by the sun. Miraculously, he finds his way back to camp. As he nears the excavation 'something' bites him on the shoulder and tries to drink his blood, but he fights it off. Deane and the remaining members of his party depart the next morning, leaving the desert to its secrets. One of the 50 top vampire novels." - Robert Eighteen-Bisang. Despite a somewhat incredulous ending, this vivid, well-written tale of a bloodsucking mummy is a classic of its kind. Clareson, Science Fiction in America, 1870s-1930s 747. Reginald 14000. Not in Bleiler (1948; 1978). Smith, American Fiction, 1901-1925 T-69. Foxing to the two color plates which has bled into the two leaves before and after, top edge of pages dust soiled, mild rubbing to spine ends and corners, white lettering on spine perished, front panel very bright and handsome. A solid, attractive, very good or better copy. A major genre rarity. (#136412).
Price: $2,500.00
"Published April, 1904" on copyright page.