THE STRANGE CASE OF DR. JEKYLL AND MR. HYDE
First issue of the Gothic thriller, in the scarce original wrappers.
Very good.
Price: $6,000.00
THE STRANGE CASE OF DR. JEKYLL AND MR. HYDE
"I was dreaming a fine bogey tale." – Stevenson to his wife Fanny, when she woke him from the nightmare that inspired JEKYLL AND HYDE
Following in the tradition of Mary Shelley's FRANKENSTEIN, this novella explores the philosophical consequences of scientific pursuit unrestrained by conscience. Originally priced at one shilling, it is bargain horror at its best, a penny dreadful that is "dam dreadful, " as Stevenson wrote in a letter during its composition. The work's popularity is based in part on its masterly balance of cheap thriller and conte philosophique – an equation that continues to influence creators: in an interview with Web of Stories, Stan Lee credited a combination of FRANKENSTEIN and JEKYLL AND HYDE as the inspiration behind the Incredible Hulk.
Read more: Mehew (editor), Selected Letters of Robert Louis Stevenson. Web of Stories: Stan Lee, "Creating The Hulk, Spider-Man and Daredevil."
The Object
First edition. London: Longmans, Green, and Co, 1886. 7'' x 4.5''. Original wrappers printed in blue and red. Ads in red and blue on interior of both wrappers, one page of ads at rear. [8], 141, [1], [2] pages. Date hand-corrected from 1885 to 1886 on front wrapper. Likely contemporary ink ownership signature on front wrapper. Housed in custom gilt brown goatskin clamshell box. Spine largely perished (as common), browning to extremities to wrappers: interior bright.
The Fine Print
We work hard to meet our ethical responsibility to describe our material accurately. All items are guaranteed as described and may be returned for any reason within 30 days. Please notify us before mailing a return.
We guarantee the authenticity of our items. All materials are original (meaning not facsimiles or reproductions) unless otherwise noted. First editions (meaning first edition, first printing) are explicitly stated. TPM is a member of the Antiquarian Booksellers Association of America and upholds their Code of Ethics.
All photographs are of the actual item for sale. We're happy to provide additional images on request.
All domestic orders ship gratis. For orders under $250, free USPS media mail shipping is included; orders $250 and over ship USPS Priority. International orders over $500 also ship gratis. Expedited, overnight, as well as other carriers (UPS, Fed-Ex, etc.), may carry additional costs beyond quoted rates. All orders receive tracking information and a direct contact in case of any questions.
International buyers are responsible for any customs, taxes, and related import fees. Please note that we are unable to accomodate requests to misrepresent, misdeclare, or otherwise falsify customs documents when shipping internationally. We appreciate your understanding.
We accept all major credit cards, Paypal, Venmo, check, money order, and bank wire. We are happy to bill institutional buyers' needs. Sales tax will be added to applicable purchases. Items subject to prior sale.
If for any reason you are dissatisfied with your purchase, please contact us. We prioritize our long-term relationships far above any individual purchase, and we want you to love your item as much as we loved cataloguing it.