Books

Herbert George Wells (1895) The Time Machine, UK first edition, later issue, published by Heinemann. 32 pages of advertisements at the rear starting with Donovan Pasha title as shown. Hardback bound in oatmeal colored cloth with the Sphinx embossing and lettering in purple. Together with an original handwritten and signed H.G. Wells letter. There are several issues or states of the first edition. The collectible market considers the version with 16 pages of ads and embossing in purple as the first issue or state. There are also other, later issues without any ads at the back. Condition of the book: a beautiful near fine specimen without any internal foxing. The contents page is uncut as shown. One light squash to top front corner as shown. The letter: penned on his 52 St James Court Stationery Wells responds to an interview request to a Mr. Collins closing with yours sincerely H.G. Wells. Near fine with usual folds to fit an envelope. Presented in a beautiful grey buckram folder with a Wells photograph mounted on the front. The folder's spine is lettered in gold: H.G. Wells Letter. The Time Machine was Wells's breakthrough novel; a classic sci-fi novel and father of all subsequent time-traveling stories. A landmark book with a beautiful letter. First and Fine.

The Time Machine is a science fiction novella by H.G. Wells, published in 1895 and written as a frame narrative. The work is generally credited with the popularization of the concept of time travel by using a vehicle that allows an operator to travel purposely and selectively forwards or backwards in time. The term 'time machine', coined by Wells, is now almost universally used to refer to such a vehicle.