Stevenson, Robert Louis

8vo (186 x 125mm.), FIRST EDITION, half-title, folding map partially in colour facing title-page with "Sketch of the Cruise of the Brig Covenant And the probable course of David Balfour's Wanderings", single leaf advertisement for first illustrated edition of Treasure Island followed by 16pp. of selections from Cassell's publications (earlier state with "5.G.4.86" at foot of first page), original reddish-brown silk-grained cloth lettered in gilt on the spine, black coated endpapers, collector's quarter brown morocco folding box, very minor spotting on the fore-edge

A REMARKABLY FINE COPY

Prideaux 18; McKay/Beinecke 1:378

A BEAUTIFUL COPY OF THE FIRST PUBLISHED EDITION OF THE AUTHOR'S CLASSIC POPULAR TALE, the basis for countless film and television adaptations. Kidnapped, published on 14th July 1886 after being serialized in Young Folks' Paper, is far more than a wonderful adventure story for boys. It brilliantly captures the atmosphere in Scotland following the 1745 Jacobite rising and contrasts the differences in 'lowland' and 'highland' mentality in the figures of David Balfour and Alan Breck.

The text has the first issue points, corrected in the second issue published later in the same year ("business" which became "pleasure", p.40 line 11; "nine o'clock" which became "twelve o'clock", p.64, line 2; and "Long Islands" which became "Long Island", p.101, lines 9-10). Copies of the first edition were issued in a variety of blue, scarlet, brown and green cloth boards. There were also a few copies of a proof edition printed to secure copyright.