Books

First American edition of Bram Stoker's masterpiece, the progenitor of the vampire genre which remains "arguably the most potent literary myth of the twentieth century" (Leatherdale, 11), signed by him and a host of other actors who portrayed vampires. Octavo, original pictorial beige cloth stamped in blue and gilt. Presentation copy, inscribed by the author on the front free endpaper, "Harry Powers from Bram Stoker 16 May 1900." Subsequently from the collection of George W. Fuller with his bookplate to the pastedown, then Forrest "Forry" J. Ackerman who dedicated his life to building what many consider to have been the world's largest personal collection of science fiction, fantasy and horror memorabilia. Ackerman purchased the book in the early 1950s and throughout the years had actors who had portrayed vampires, as well as other members of the horror genre, sign the book. Additionally inscribed on the front free endpaper by Bela Lugosi who starred as Count Dracula in the 1931 American film adaptation, "To my friend, Forrest Ackerman, in remembrance, Bela Lugosi" and signed by him again, "Bela Lugosi." Additionally signed and inscribed on the front free endpaper and pastedown by over a dozen legends of horror cinema including Christopher Lee (who starred as Count Dracula in the 1958 English film adaptation), Vincent Price, Bill Obbagy, Ingrid Pitt, Karl Freund, Donald A. Reed, Barry Atwater, Maila Nurmi "Vampira", Carla Laemmle, Carroll Borland, John Carradine, Raymond McNally, Ferdy Mayne, Paul Naschy, and Barbara Leigh. In very good condition with interior tape reinforcements to the hinges, rebacked. Housed in a custom half morocco clamshell box. A unique example, exceptionally rare and desirable signed by Stoker, Lugosi and such an assemblage of icons of the horror genre. First published in 1897, Bram Stoker's Dracula remains "[t]he world's most influential and enduring supernatural novel of vampirism, starring the most celebrated and evocative character in macabre literature" (Dalby). Contemporary reviews compared Stoker's masterpiece favorably to Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, Emily Bronte's Wuthering Heights, and Poe's The Fall of the House of Usher. Since then it has engendered "arguably the most potent literary myth of the twentieth century" (Leatherdale, 11). Related through letters, diary entries, and newspaper articles, the epistolary novel opens with solicitor Jonathan Harker taking a business trip to stay at the castle of a Transylvanian nobleman, Count Dracula. Harker escapes the castle after discovering that Dracula is a vampire, and the Count moves to England and plagues the seaside town of Whitby. A small group, led by Abraham Van Helsing, investigate, hunt and kill Dracula. Dracula continues to occupy a significant position in the literary canon with a legacy of hundreds of adaptations for the stage and screen, most notably the 1931 American supernatural horror film starring Bela Lugosi and the 1958 English gothic horror film starring Christopher Lee as Count Dracula. "Bram Stoker has given us the most remarkable scenes of horror" - "Dracula is a panting engine of late Victorian sexuality, a sexuality that has been barely sublimated into violence" (Stephen King).

"Dracula" by Bram Stoker is a gothic horror novel that follows the story of Count Dracula, a vampire who seeks to spread his curse from Transylvania to England. Jonathan Harker, a young solicitor, visits Dracula's castle to assist with a real estate transaction, only to discover the terrifying truth about the Count. Dracula arrives in England, preying on innocent victims while evading detection by transforming into different forms. He targets Lucy Westenra, whose friends and suitors, including Dr. John Seward, Arthur Holmwood, and Professor Abraham Van Helsing, join forces to thwart the vampire's evil intentions. Structured as a collection of diary entries, letters, newspaper clippings, and ship's logs, "Dracula" introduces various themes such as the clash between modernity and ancient superstitions, the fear of the unknown, the allure of the forbidden, and the struggle between good and evil. Stoker's novel is significant for several reasons. First published in 1897, "Dracula" helped shape the modern vampire genre and established many conventions associated with vampires in popular culture, including their aversion to garlic, the use of wooden stakes, and their ability to transform into bats. Moreover, the character of Count Dracula has become an iconic figure in literature and entertainment, influencing numerous adaptations in films, television, theater, and literature. Thematically, "Dracula" delves into Victorian anxieties about sexuality, morality, and the changing social dynamics of the time. It explores the fears and desires of a society grappling with scientific advancements, the decline of traditional values, and the challenges posed by foreign influence. Stoker's skillful narrative, combined with the enduring appeal of the vampire archetype, has secured "Dracula" as a seminal work in gothic literature, leaving an indelible mark on both literary canon and popular culture, influencing subsequent generations of writers and artists exploring the supernatural and macabre.