Books

London: Macmillan and Co, 1894. First Edition. Near Fine. 1894, 1895. Two volumes. 303; 238 pp. + 2 [ads]. First edition, first printing. Bound in publisher's original royal blue cloth elaborately stamped in gilt, top edges gilt. Near Fine with light lean to spine, light toning to spine cloth and light rubbing to extremities. Pages toned, previous owner name to preliminary blank sheet of Volume I, and small vintage bookseller ticket to front pastedown of Volume II. A lovely set.

The Jungle Book is a collection of stories by the English author Rudyard Kipling. Most of the characters are animals such as Shere Khan the tiger and Baloo the bear, though a principal character is the boy or "man-cub" Mowgli, who is raised in the jungle by wolves. The stories are set in a forest in India; one place mentioned repeatedly is the Seonee Hills, now known as the Seoni District in Madhya Pradesh.

For collecting purposes, a first edition of 'The Jungle Book' is identified by its publisher Macmillan & Co., and publication year 1894. As certain features like cover designs and typography can vary, it is advisable to consult a reputable rare book dealer or reference guide specific to Kipling's works for the more detailed nuances of first edition identification.