Bowen-Merrill, 1901
First US Edition, First Printing, First State An exceedingly scarce title to locate in the first US printing. A handsome, unrestored, clean example of this title. The US edition is the true first printing having been published one month prior to the UK edition. All pages present, and firmly bound. First state with “Bowen/Merrill” at the base of the spine panel. Variant with the moon, author and title all gold stamped to the front, and the title blind stamped to the rear board. The American edition of The First Men in the Moon is the true first edition in book form, preceding the London edition by one month. Wells’s lunar adventure was a genre-defining work, and arguably the first alien dystopia, which inspired many later works.
The First State book is in near fine condition with beautiful blue cloth boards with strong unfaded gilt tiles to the front and spine. Variant with both the moon, the author and the tiles all stamped in gold, and stunning gilt designs to the front with gilt titles to the spine, and the title blind stamped to the rear board. First state with “Bowen/Merrill” at the base of the spine panel. The book has sharp corners and no edgewear but with to the outermost corner tips. Illustrations by E Herring. Original tissue guard is present. The end papers are clean with no owner names, no bookplates and no bookstore stamps, however there is a faded illegible inscription to the title page (please see images). The internal pages are very clean and bright with no foxing, no handling marks, no writing, no bent pages and no stains.
A very handsome example of this title in collectible condition without the excessive wear, and broken bindings as is typically found with this title. Important, scarce edition. Presents well on the shelf.
