The War of the Worlds -
H. G. Wells
1898 - William Heinemann, London - First Edition, First Issue with advertisements dated 1897
‘Yet across the gulf of space, minds that are to our minds as ours are to those of the beasts that perish, intellects vast and cool and unsympathetic, regarded this earth with envious eyes, and slowly and surely drew their plans against us.’
A superior example. The first edition of this truly influential masterpiece of science fiction by the man widely considered as the father of the genre, rare in such clean condition, no fading to the spine, no foxing to the edges, and strong lettering to the cloth. The first issue with the 16 page catalogue of Heinemann’s Autumn Announcements dated 1897 to the rear.
“The book was begotten by a remark of my brother Frank (to whom the novel is dedicated). We were walking together through some particularly peaceful Surrey scenery. 'Suppose some beings from another planet were to drop out of the sky suddenly', said he, 'and began laying about them here!' . That was the point of departure . And the value of the story to me lies in this, that from first to last there is nothing in it that is impossible.” H. G. Wells after failing an apprenticeship as a draper, became a teacher (one of his students being A. A. Milne) he then won a scholarship to the Normal School of Science (now Imperial College, London).
The book was an immediate success, helped no doubt by the growing threat of invasion by the powers gathering strength across the English Channel, combined with the observations of the planet Mars. Predicting robotics, world wars, warfare tactics including aerial bombing, tanks and chemical weapons, and nuclear power. Wells also seems to have taken great pleasure in the fictional devastation of locations where he had spent an unhappy childhood.
First edition in book form, first issue with William Heinemann’s sixteen page Autumn Announcement dated ‘Autumn mdcccxcvii’ to rear. Currey State A.
References: Wells 14. Currey, Science Fiction and Fantasy Authors, 426. Hammond B5. Bleiler, Fantastic Literature, 282. Bleiler, The Early Years, 2331. Locke, A Spectrum of Fantasy, Vol I 228.
Octavo (book size 19.6x13.9cm), pp. viii 303 [1] 16 (publisher’s Autumn Announcements mdcccxcvii). In publisher’s grey cloth, lettered in black to spine and front panel. Condition: Fine but for faint foxing to the endpapers, and one or two gatherings over-opened. Ref: 112619 Price: HK$ 58,000
A superior example. The first edition of this truly influential masterpiece of science fiction by the man widely considered as the father of the genre, rare in such clean condition, no fading to the spine, no foxing to the edges, and strong lettering to the cloth. The first issue with the 16 page catalogue of Heinemann’s Autumn Announcements dated 1897 to the rear.
“The book was begotten by a remark of my brother Frank (to whom the novel is dedicated). We were walking together through some particularly peaceful Surrey scenery. 'Suppose some beings from another planet were to drop out of the sky suddenly', said he, 'and began laying about them here!' . That was the point of departure . And the value of the story to me lies in this, that from first to last there is nothing in it that is impossible.” H. G. Wells after failing an apprenticeship as a draper, became a teacher (one of his students being A. A. Milne) he then won a scholarship to the Normal School of Science (now Imperial College, London).
The book was an immediate success, helped no doubt by the growing threat of invasion by the powers gathering strength across the English Channel, combined with the observations of the planet Mars. Predicting robotics, world wars, warfare tactics including aerial bombing, tanks and chemical weapons, and nuclear power. Wells also seems to have taken great pleasure in the fictional devastation of locations where he had spent an unhappy childhood.
First edition in book form, first issue with William Heinemann’s sixteen page Autumn Announcement dated ‘Autumn mdcccxcvii’ to rear. Currey State A.
References: Wells 14. Currey, Science Fiction and Fantasy Authors, 426. Hammond B5. Bleiler, Fantastic Literature, 282. Bleiler, The Early Years, 2331. Locke, A Spectrum of Fantasy, Vol I 228.
Octavo (book size 19.6x13.9cm), pp. viii 303 [1] 16 (publisher’s Autumn Announcements mdcccxcvii). In publisher’s grey cloth, lettered in black to spine and front panel. Condition: Fine but for faint foxing to the endpapers, and one or two gatherings over-opened. Ref: 112619 Price: HK$ 58,000