Item #17289 THE TIME MACHINE: AN INVENTION. Wells.
Signed

THE TIME MACHINE: AN INVENTION ...

London: William Heinemann, 1895. Small octavo, pp. [1-8] 1-151 [152], original decorated tan cloth, front and rear panels stamped in purple, spine panel stamped in light blue; binding measures 18.2 cm vertically; "HEINEMANN" at base of spine set in 12-point type; top edge uncut, fore and bottom edges rough trimmed. First British edition, second cloth binding, no inserted publisher's catalogue. Signed by Wells on the half title page. The author's first SF novel. "Many rank it as Wells's best book, certainly its qualities are striking and direct ... All time-travel stories since owe a debt to Wells, none has become so acclaimed." - Bleiler (ed), Science Fiction Writers, p. 26. "THE TIME MACHINE might be considered the first work of modern science-fiction, and it is still the classic statement of an important subgenre ... A remarkable work, and necessary reading." - Bleiler, Science-Fiction: The Early Years 2325. Anatomy of Wonder (1976) 2-161; (1981) 1-171; (1987) 1-103; (1995) 1-103; and (2004) II-1232. Clareson, Science Fiction in America, 1870s-1930s 800. Clarke, Tale of the Future (1978), p. 21. Lewis, Utopian Literature, p. 207. Locke, A Spectrum of Fantasy, p. 227. Negley, Utopian Literature: A Bibliography 1175. Sargent, British and American Utopian Literature, 1516-1985, p. 107. Survey of Science Fiction Literature V, pp. 2287-92. Suvin, Victorian Science Fiction in the UK, pp. 62-3. Bleiler (1978), p. 205. Reginald 15085. Currey (2002), p. 424 (binding C). Hammond B1. Wells 4. Neatly signed and dated 1904 in pencil by an early owner on the front free endpaper. Tipped onto the front paste-down is a lengthy letter of provenance detailing where and when this copy was signed by Wells (17 January 1939 at a P.E.N. Club dinner). Hint of tanning to spine panel, some mild spotting to front free endpaper and darkening to rear endpapers, a nearly fine copy. A lovely copy with a bright, clean and unworn binding. THE TIME MACHINE is rarely found inscribed or signed by Wells. (17289). Item #17289

Price: $45,000.00

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