THE FIRST MEN IN THE MOON. London: George Newnes, Limited, 1901. Octavo, pp. [i-iv] v-vii [viii] [1] 2-342 [343-344: blank] [note: final leaf is a blank], twelve inserted plates with illustrations by Claude Shepperson, original decorated blue cloth, front and spine panels stamped in gold, black coated endpapers. First British edition, first binding. The U.S. Bowen-Merrill edition preceded the British edition by approximately one month. The two editions have minor textual differences. "...a gripping adventure story as well as a historic milestone in modern science fiction." - Survey of Science Fiction Literature II, pp. 782-86. "The last and most complex [of Wells's early scientific romances] is THE FIRST MEN IN THE MOON. The two first men, Bedford and Cavor are well-contrasted, the civilization of the Selenites is excellent both as horror and satire; and the novel abounds with wonderful passages of unforced description at which Wells is unrivaled... This lovely book also contains much of Wells's delightful humor; it has kept the joints of his discourse oiled to this day. After THE FIRST MEN IN THE MOON, Wells's science fiction novels are never quite the same." - Bleiler (ed), Science Fiction Writers, p. 28. Anatomy of Wonder (1976) 2-166; (1981) 1-175; (1987) 1-98; (1995) 1-98; and (2004) II-1225. Bleiler, Science-Fiction: The Early Years 2335. Clareson, Science Fiction in America, 1870s-1930s 795. Lewis, Utopian Literature, p. 206. Locke, A Spectrum of Fantasy, p. 226. Locke, Voyages in Space 208. Negley, Utopian Literature: A Bibliography 1177. Sargent, British and American Utopian Literature, 1516-1985, pp. 123-24. In 333. Bleiler (1978), p. 205. Reginald 15026. Currey, p. 518 (binding A). Hammond B7. Wells 18. Wells Society 18. Hint of rubbing to cloth at head and tail of spine panel and corner tips, top edge of text block just a bit dusty, some foxing to uncoated sides of free endpaper with a bit of offset on verso of half title and recto of final blank, else a near fine copy with a clean, bright cover and tight, uncracked inner hinges. A nice copy of this book. (#80302).
Price: $1,750.00
No statement of printing.