1876 The Mysterious Island The Secret of the Island [With] Abandoned

Description

First Edition, Publishers' Original Binding

Comprising of two of the three volumes that were published. The English language translation of ‘The Mysterious Island’ was first published in London in September 1875. This American edition was issued using the same sheets as the British edition, in November 1875. The work was published as ‘Dropped from the Clouds’, ‘The Abandoned’, and ‘The Secret of the Island’. 

This set comprises of ‘Abandoned’ and ‘The Secret of the Island’ only.  Lacking ‘Dropped from the Clouds’.

Very scarce to have multiple volumes of this work together.

This translation is purported to be W. H. G. Kingston, the noted author of boy’s adventure novels. However, it has now been established that the true translator was his wife, Agnes Kinloch Kingston. In the English translation the protagonist’s name has been changed from ‘Smith’ to ‘Harding’.

‘The Mysterious Island’ is set during the American Civil War. Five Northern prisoners of war escape during the siege of Richmond, by hijacking an observation balloon. The novel follows their adventures.

Frontispiece and 48 plates to ‘The Secret of the Island’; frontispiece and forty-nine plates to ‘Abandoned’. 

‘Abandoned’ is lacking the ‘Flotsam and Jetsam’ plate.

Prior owner’s inscription to the recto of front endpaper, Edward W Farnham from George Christmas 1875.

Two scarce volumes of this early science fiction work.