Books

Five Weeks in a Balloon; or, Journeys and Discoveries in Africa by Three Englishmen, Compiled in French by Jules Verne, From the Original Notes of Dr. Ferguson. And Done Into English by William Lackland. With 48 Heliotype Illustrations, James R. Osgood and Company, Boston, 1873, frontispiece, 345 pp, rust colored illustrated cloth, 8 x 5 , 8vo. In fair condition. Modest soiling to surface of cloth with moderate with to extremities. Cloth quite darkened from age and wear. Corners are rubbed with slight crushing, end bands slightly frayed and rubbed. Gilt work rubbed along spine and balloon on front cover. Spine slanted slightly. Old hand signature of James S. Callahan Geneva, N.Y dated 1875 on fly. Second fly soiled with previously erased ownership and fingersoiling. Text block is slightly toned with areas of finger soiling and age stain. Some light foxing throughout, as to be expected. Two plates are loose, 69 pp. 99 pp. Plate 99pp is soiled and chipped at bottom edge. Free of known marginalia. Rear pastedown and fly have old hand ownerships as well. Binding remains intact. Please see photos. First illustrated deluxe edition of Vernes first full-length novel, originally published in an English translation in 1869. Second U.S. edition. A fantasy adventure charting the travels of a balloon over the dark continent , and a satire on English books of African exploration.

Five Weeks in a Balloon was the first novel in Jules Verne’s series known as the Extraordinary Voyages. It tells the story of a journey over Africa in a hydrogen balloon, exploring both uncharted territories and the spirit of adventure.