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 and bottom edges rough trimmed, fore edge untrimmed. First British edition, second cloth binding, no inserted publisher's catalogue. 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. The Heinemann edition is preceded by the U.S. Holt edition, which has a different text, presumably from an earlier version of the story, this edition is considered the better text. 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, p. 525 (binding B). Hammond B1. Wells 4. Wolff 7107. Free end papers tanned, foxing to paste downs, slight lean, mild soiling to front and rear cover, spine age darkened with purple lettering somewhat faded and several small stain spots, a very good copy. This is likely a bindup of a wrappered copy which was later stripped and bound in cloth. (28402). Item #28402
Price: $3,500.00