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Hardcover. Number 323 of 350 copies of this magnificent book. It is accompanied by a portfolio with copies of the fifty-two wood engravings, all initialed by Barry Moser. "To Moser, Frankenstein aligned with, as he put it, moral transgressions of the twentieth century, the failure of compassion, the reticence to communicate, the inability to empathize, and the pervasive and malignant presence of racism and bigotry. Struggling to confront the racism of his upbringing and family, Moser found a vehicle in Frankenstein's "demon," a being beset on all sides by revulsion and hatred. Conscious to avoid the characterizations of popular film versions, he endeavored to recreate the demon by sewing chicken skin on a plastic armature skull he had in his studio and documenting its decay. What emerged was a fresh interpretation of Mary Shelley's critique of our flawed human condition. Said Barry Moser in 1986: " I'm often asked, which of my books is my favorite and I usually respond with the single word Frankenstein. It is my favorite because it, more than the others, exemplifies what I hold to be ideal: it holds together as a unit, a cohesive whole with type, text, and images well-balanced and well paced." [From the website of Barry Moser's representative, R. Michelson Galleries]. As background: In 1977 Moser met Andrew Hoyem, who asked if Moser would be interested in illustrating Arion Press's forthcoming Moby-Dick. He was, he did, and it was published to great fanfare. This had profound ramifications for Pennyroyal Press because, as Moser reasoned in retrospect, he could certainly design a book as well as Hoyem, and Harold McGrath, who was widely considered as the finest letterpress printer in America at the time, was certainly as good a pressman as any of Hoyem's. And so Moser, McGrath, and Jeff Dwyer, their business manager and partner, determined to produce something that was much grander than any of the previous Pennyroyal books. In 1982 the Pennyroyal Press edition of Lewis Carroll's Alice's Adventures in Wonderland appeared. It was followed by Through the Looking Glass also in 1982. Following Alice's success, Pennyroyal published four more large-scale volumes in quick succession: Lewis Carroll's Through the Looking Glass, and What Alice Found There in 1982; Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, or the Modern Prometheus in 1983; Mark Twain's Huckleberry Finn in 1985, and The Wizard of Oz in 1985. Bound in handsome quarter brown leather with dark red cloth covers. The spine has five raised bands and a red leather title label. Printed by Harold P. McGrath in Poliphilus and Blado with Wilhelm Klinsporschrit types on Pulegium an archival paper manufactured for the Press. The fifty-two loose engravings are held in a dark red cloth portfolio. Both are housed in a dark red cloth covered slipcase. In fine condition in a very good slipcase with slight signs of handling and two small darker red spots along the right joint and light fading on bottom of the covers. Book measures 10 x 13.5 inches. 282 pages including the four essays. PRI/092624.

Mary Shelley's "Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus" stands as a cornerstone of gothic literature and a prized artifact in the rare book market. Published in 1818, the novel's lasting influence on literature, culture, and science fiction has made it highly sought after by collectors. This article explores the literary importance of "Frankenstein," its historical context, and the factors contributing to its rarity and value. "Frankenstein" is often regarded as one of the first science fiction novels. Its themes of unchecked ambition, the quest for knowledge, and the consequences of playing God have captivated readers for over two centuries. Shelley's exploration of complex ethical and philosophical questions has made the novel a subject of academic study and a timeless piece of literature. The story's impact on popular culture is profound, with numerous adaptations in film, theatre, and other media. The novel was conceived during the summer of 1816, known as the "Year Without a Summer," at the Villa Diodati near Lake Geneva. It emerged from a storytelling contest among Mary Shelley, her future husband Percy Bysshe Shelley, Lord Byron, and John Polidori. The first edition of "Frankenstein" was published anonymously in 1818 by the small London publishing house Lackington, Hughes, Harding, Mavor, & Jones. Only 500 copies were printed, and Mary Shelley's name did not appear as the author until the 1823 edition. The rarity of "Frankenstein" in the rare book market is mainly due to the scarcity of its first edition. With only 500 copies initially printed and the book's age, surviving copies are extremely rare. The fragile nature of early 19th-century books, combined with historical events such as wars and natural disasters, has further reduced the number of existing copies. The market value of a first edition of "Frankenstein" can reach staggering amounts. In recent years, well-preserved copies have been auctioned for hundreds of thousands of dollars. For instance, a first edition copy sold at a Christie's auction in 2021 for $1.17 million.