KIPLING, Rudyard. CAPTAINS COURAGEOUS. A Story of the Grand Banks. Handsomely bound in 3/4 reddish-brown niger morocco, t.e.g. Published in parts (chapters) in volumes II and III of Pearson's Magazine, from December, 1896, to April, 1897. The true first edition, hb, slim 8vo, 85 pp.

Written when Kipling was but 31, living in Vermont, and not long married to the sister of his American agent, this is his only book to be set entirely in America. This unique item contains the December, 1896; and the January to April, 1897 parts of Pearson's Magazine which constitute the first appearance in print of Kipling's famous novella. The first book publication was by Macmillan (London), later in 1897, with 21 illustrations by I. W. Taber (copies of which are being offered for up to $11,500), followed by the first American book publication, later the same year, by The Century Company (New York City). This item also contains 16 black-and-white illustrations by I. W. Taber, as well as an additional 21 black-and-white illustrations by Fred T. Jane (the founder of "Jane's Fighting Ships"), and two by Swain.

There are those who may argue that the bound parts of a serialized novel cannot be a true first edition of the book itself. However, as Graham Pollard notes in his essay "Serial Fiction", in John Carter's NEW PATHS IN BOOK COLLECTING: "There can be no doubt that, if first appearance is in itself a virtue, it belongs almost exclusively to the serial issue. Its illustrations and its differences from the final text, may sometimes throw a vivid light on the original form from which the story developed."

The five parts are bound without any printed preliminary leaves, containing 85 pages from the magazine. The binding is by Sandorski and Sutcliffe, of London. The spine is in compartments with delicate gilt lettering and the date 1896-7 at bottom. The leather of the front board is a bit spotted, more so near the top than elsewhere, and the top of the hinge is rubbed. The boards are also slightly bumped. The front free endpaper shows the remains of stamp hinges where the former owner has hinged his bookplate and some auction notices of the book edition. There are four small spots to the rear endpaper, of no particular consequence. The contents are generally clean, if slightly edge-worn. Overall, this
item is in very good condition in a most attractive binding.

Price: $5,000 US / $7,500 Cdn       #28063
 
 

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