Books

Eight quarto issues (24cm); original decorative wrappers; with illustrations by Warwick Goble and Cosmo Rowe. Publication sequence as follows: Vol.XXX, Nos.1-6; Vol.XXXI, Nos.1-2. Some shallow losses to spine on the March, 1901 issue, with faint dampstaining to upper rear wrapper on the April, 1901 issue; Very Good. Remaining issues all show modest wear, gentle sunning to spines and tanning to wrapper extremities, with several small tears and attendant creases to same; tiny crease and tear to upper margin of text on the April-June, 1901 issues; penciled name to upper margin of one front cover; contents clean, complete; Very Good+. First appearance in the U.S. of Wells's ninth novel, narrating a journey to the moon by a businessman and an eccentric scientist, who encounter a sophisticated civilization of insect-like creatures they call "Selenites," who take them captive underground. The novel was first serialized in The Strand Magazine in the UK (between December, 1900 - August, 1901), though the Strand appearance was illustrated by Claude Shepperson. A primary appearance of this cornerstone work of the genre, scarce in the original wrappers. cf.Wells 18; Barron, Anatomy of Wonder, 3rd Ed., 1-98.

The First Men in the Moon is a scientific romance by the English author H. G. Wells, originally serialized in The Strand Magazine from December 1900 to August 1901 and published in hardcover in 1901, who called it one of his best works in science fiction.