THE PHANTOM SHIP. London: Henry Colburn, Publisher, 1839. 12mo, three volumes: pp. [1-2] [1] 2-300; [1-2] [1] 2-289 [290: blank]; [1-2] [1] 2-266, bound in mid nineteenth century full polished calf, front and rear panels ruled in blind, spine panels richly tooled in gold, brown leather title and number pieces, all edges speckled red. First edition. "The undisputed master of the sea story, noted for such classics as MR MIDSHIPMAN EASY (1834). Marryat was also enchanted with the Gothic horror field and produced two chilling excursions into the supernatural, first with SNARLEYYOW, OR THE DOG FIEND (1836), then THE PHANTOM SHIP (1839), a stirring and lusty retelling of the Flying Dutchman legend. Both novels are much overlooked today, except for the werewolf episode from the second book, often reprinted separately as 'The White Wolf of the Hartz Mountains.'" - Ashley, Who's Who in Horror and Fantasy Fiction, p. 126. Chapter 39, "Krantz's Narrative," is "an excellent Romantic tale, the first significant werewolf tale in English, and still one of the best. It marks first appearance of many of the standard werewolf motifs." - Bleiler, The Guide to Supernatural Fiction 1110. "Krantz's Narrative" has "a unique flavour all its own, and reads today, with its undated prose and almost laconic narrative method, as though it had been newly penned." - Copper, The Werewolf in Legend, Fact & Art, pp. 162-65. Barron (ed), Horror Literature 2061. Locke, A Spectrum of Fantasy, p. 151. Lovecraft, Supernatural Horror in Literature, pp. 40-1. Tymn (ed), Horror Literature 2-67. Sullivan (ed), The Penguin Encyclopedia of Horror and the Supernatural, p. 454. In 333. Bleiler (1978), p. 133. Reginald 09688. Block, The English Novel 1740-1850, p. 153. NCBEL III 705. Sadleir 1593. Wolff 4532. Bookplate of John Bartholomew affixed to the front paste-down of each volume. All volumes professionally rebacked and refurbished long ago (Carss & Co., Glasgow, binder's ticket affixed to the front paste-down of volume one) with original spines laid down, new endpapers. Volume one lacks the half title leaf (none required in volumes two and three), volume three lacks four leaves of advertising matter (N2-N6) at rear. (#170487).
Price: $1,000.00
No statement of printing.