THE HISTORY OF A VOYAGE TO THE MOON, WITH AN ACCOUNT OF THE ADVENTURERS' SUBSEQUENT DISCOVERIES. AN EXHUMED NARRATIVE, SUPPOSED TO HAVE BEEN EJECTED FROM A LUNAR VOLCANO.
London: Lockwood & Co., 1864. Octavo, pp. [1-4] [1] 2-204, inserted lithographed frontispiece, original decorated green pebbled cloth, front and rear panels stamped in blind, spine panel stamped in gold, cream coated endpapers. First edition. This proto-science fiction story "depicts its protagonists' discovery of an antigravity device which they use to fly to the moon, where they find a utopia inhabited by 'amnesiac reincarnations of select Earthmen.'" - Clute and Nicholls (eds), The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction, p. 1242. "Certainly the most significant SF novel between Shelley and the 1870s, it influenced both Verne and Wells." - Suvin, Victorian Science Fiction in the UK, pp. 12-13. Anatomy of Wonder (1976) 1-1; (1981) 1-3; and (2004) II-1141. Locke, A Spectrum of Fantasy Volume II, p. 5. Locke, Voyages in Space 11. Sargent, British and American Utopian Literature, 1516-1985, p. 56. Bleiler (1978), p. 6. Reginald 07237. Originally a Victorian lending library copy acquired 11 March 1865 by the Hull Subscription Library (aka Hull Royal Instution), with their label affixed to the front paste-down and acquisition number written on the spine panel. It was acquired later by Brigham Young Uiversity who added their ownership marks, and still later, 18 October 1999, was deaccessioned by them. Skillfully rebacked with original spine laid down, shallow loss along the fore-edge of the fly-title neatly mended, a very good copy. A major genre rarity, seldom found in nice condition. (#154532) (18893). Item #18893
Price: $5,000.00