GRAUSTARK: THE STORY OF A LOVE BEHIND A THRONE. Chicago: Herbert S. Stone and Company, 1901. Octavo, pp. [1-8] 1-459 [460-464: blank] [note: first two and last two leaves are blanks], title page printed in orange, black and blind, original pictorial blue-gray cloth, front, spine and rear panels stamped in white, t.e.g., other edges untrimmed. First edition. This copy has all the first printing points called for by BAL, including "Noble's" for "Lorry's," page 150, line 6, but the laid paper stock is not watermarked. The author's first book (preceded by two ephemeral publications), a Ruritanian romance set in Graustark, an imaginary country in Europe. The first of McCutcheon's six very popular Graustark novels, followed by BEVERLY OF GRAUSTARK (1904), TRUXTON KING (1909), THE PRINCE OF GRAUSTARK (1912), EAST OF THE SETTING SUN (1924) and THE INN OF THE HAWK AND RAVEN (1927). With well-managed publicity and on its own merits, the book became a national bestseller within two months of its publication. Over 100,000 copies of the original edition were sold before the reprints were made. The success of McCutcheon's first book placed him among the most popular of the American romance writers. "The mythical Balkan realm of Graustark remains a household name in the U.S.A. ..." - Clute and Grant (eds), The Encyclopedia of Fantasy (1997), p. 826. Smith, American Fiction, 1901-1925 M-121. BAL 13501 (first printing; intermediate state; binding A). Kramer 273. A very good copy. George Barr McCutcheon bookplate affixed to front paste-down. Accompanied by an Autograph Letter Signed (ALS) from McCutcheon dated 18 October 1923 to Eugene V. Brewster thanking him for sending him a copy of his book, What's What in America (1919). Enclosed in a quarter morocco and cloth slipcase which is somewhat rubbed and faded. The book is in very nice condition and is somewhat scarce thus. (#152972).
Price: $250.00
No statement of printing.