THE LOST VIOL. London: Ward Lock & Co Limited, 1908. Octavo, pp. [1-2] [1-4] 5-317 [318: blank] + 16-page undated publisher's catalogue inserted at rear, inserted frontispiece with illustration by Howard Somerville, original decorated black cloth, front and spine panels stamped in red, green and gold. First British edition. Presentation copy with brief inscription in Shiel's hand to fellow writer and Shiel acolyte Terence Ian Fytton Armstrong (a.k.a. John Gawsworth) on recto of title leaf: "F. A. / from M. P. Shiel." Realm of Redonda bookplate affixed to front paste-down. Romantic mystery novel first published in New York by Clode in 1905. "The American edition is fairly common in at least one of its variants; the British edition is very scarce." - Locke, A Spectrum of Fantasy, p. 196. Morse, The Works of M. P. Shiel Updated (1980), pp. 147-48. Hubin (1994) p. 737. Wolff 6293. Hint of rubbing to cloth at head and tail of spine panel and corner tips, some light scattered foxing to endpapers and text block, still an about near fine copy with a clean, bright cover. An excellent association copy of one of Shiel's scarcest books. (#80461).
Price: $1,500.00
No statement of printing.