London: Longmans, Green, and Co., 1887. [Fantasy Adventure] FIRST EDITION, FIRST ISSUE. Octavo (20 x 14cm), pp.[8] 317 [3]. With two colour plates showing the sherd of Amenartas as a frontispiece. With all the first issue errors: 'geneleman' for 'gentleman' p.59, line 22; 'had' for 'have' p.126, line 26; 'it compared' for 'if compared' p.258, line 37; and 'godness me' p.269, line 38. Whatmore fails to note the 'geneleman' misspelling but lists one further misprint 'mysogymist' for 'misogynist', p.88, line 4. However we have never encountered a copy with the corrected spelling of 'misogynist' in all our years of cataloguing this title, so this may not constitute an issue point. Bound in half dark blue calf over publisher's dark blue cloth sides with gilt titles to upper board, also blocked in gilt with hieroglyphics and scarab motif. Leaf 203 poorly opened (frayed at fore-edge) else contents clean, very light marks to covers. A near fine copy, in a handsome recent leather binding. An eerie Late-Victorian adventure in which African explorers discover a lost and ancient people ruled by an immortal white queen. Actually printed in December 1886. Previously published as a serial story in the Graphic, October 1886-January 1887, illustrated by E.K. Johnson. The book-form edition features some textual revisions from that version. Item #53546

Whatmore [F4]. Bleiler; Checklist of Fantastic Literature [317]. Listed in Jones & Newman; 100 Best Horror Novels.

Price: £450.00