THE NEW ORDEAL. Edinburgh and London: William Blackwood and Sons, 1879. Small octavo, pp. [1-4] [1] 2-140, full red polished calf, front and rear panels ruled and tooled in gold and blind, spine panel lettered and tooled in gold, all edges marbled, marbled endpapers. First edition. A presentation copy from Chesney to Edward Robert Lytton Bulwer-Lytton, 1st Earl of Lytton (1831-1891), son of Edward George Earle Lytton Bulwer-Lytton, 1st Baron Lytton on the title page: "H. E. Lord Lytton / from the Author." "Science fiction story of the future when, weapons of war having become so destructive, nations settle their disputes by conflict between their Champions." - Locke, A Spectrum of Fantasy, p. 13. Edward Robert Lytton Bulwer-Lytton, 1st Earl of Lytton, was an English statesman, Conservative politician, novelist and poet (who used the pseudonym Owen Meredith). He served as Viceroy of India between 1876 and 1880 and as British Ambassador to France from 1887 to 1891. Clarke, Tale of the Future (1978), p. 8. Suvin, Victorian Science Fiction in the UK, p. 20. Bleiler (1978), p. 42. Reginald 02920. Some rubbing and scuffing to calf, two tiny ink stains to rear panel, lighter stain to spine panel, a very good copy. Enclosed in a custom quarter leather rounded spine clamshell box. Unlike Chesney's THE BATTLE OF DORKING, this pamphlet is scarce. (#164051).
Price: $1,500.00
No statement of printing.