Books

First edition of this classic of children's literature, the greatest of all pirate tales. Treasure Island was inspired by the now-famous treasure map the author had drawn to entertain his young stepson "on a rainy day in the Scottish Highlands" (Grolier). It was first serialized in Young Folks magazine from October 1881 to January 1882 under the pseudonym "Captain George North". It was only with the appearance of this first edition in book form, however, that it received serious attention, and "was immediately hailed by critics as a classic" (ibid.). This copy has the points indicative of earliest issue: "dead man's chest" not capitalized on page 2, line 6 nor page 7, line 19; the full stop not present following "opportunity" in line 20, and the first state advertisements coded "5R-1083". Octavo. Original green cloth (issued in various colours without priority), spine lettered in gilt, black endpapers. Housed in custom blue cloth solander box. Frontispiece map with captions printed in red, brown, and blue; with 8 pp. of publisher's advertisements. 20th-century bookplate to front pastedown. Slight wear along joints and minor rubbing to cloth, inner hinges splitting but firm, contents toned; nonetheless a bright, very good copy. Carter, Binding Variants, p. 154; Grolier Club, One Hundred Books Famous in Children's Literature, 48; Osborne 2: 1030; Prideaux 11.

Treasure Island is an adventure novel by Scottish author Robert Louis Stevenson, narrating a tale of 'buccaneers and buried gold.' It was originally serialized in the children's magazine Young Folks between 1881 and 1882 under the title 'Treasure Island or, the mutiny of the Hispaniola', with Stevenson adopting the pseudonym Captain George North. Traditionally considered a coming-of-age story, it is an adventure tale known for its atmosphere, characters, and action. It is also noted as a wily critique of the ambiguity of morality—as seen in Long John Silver—unusual for children's literature. It is one of the most frequently dramatized of all novels. The influence of Treasure Island on popular perceptions of pirates is enormous, including such elements as treasure maps marked with an 'X', schooners, the Black Spot, tropical islands, and one-legged seamen bearing parrots on their shoulders.