Books

Scarce first edition of the author's last novel, charting the formative years of a young woman. This copy has a contemporary Irish and female provenance: initially sold by Thomas Connolly of Dublin, it entered the library of Helena Butson in 1850 and afterwards became part of a circulating library in the city. We trace only two complete copies at auction in the past fifty years, the most recent in 2019. In her journal for 7 June 1836, Shelley recorded: "I am now writing 'Falkner'. My best it will be, I believe." This is her only novel in which the female protagonist triumphs over violent and destructive masculinity. Elizabeth is "a female character who, unlike the heroines of Lodore and Matilda, manages to derail the agendas of dominant men, placing in their stead an ideal of 'feminine fosterage'" (Schor, p. 4). Falkner was the last work of fiction published in Shelley's lifetime; Matilda, also a novel, appeared posthumously in 1959. The work was favorably received by critics. The Atheneum praised it as "among the best, if not quite the best" of her novels, followed by The Monthly Repository (her "finest work"), and The Court Journal, which described the story as "one of absorbing interest, of infinite and varied beauty, and great power of delineation and development in the principal characters". Provenance: a) Dublin bookseller Thomas Connolly, with his ticket on the front pastedown. Connolly's shop was in 6 Chancery Place and in the 1840s his stock comprised thousands of new and second-hand books. b) Helena Eyre Butson, née Maunsell (1821-1879), wife of Rev. Christopher Butson; her ownership inscription dated 1850 on the front pastedown and a penciled note on the front free endpaper in a later hand giving her address as 49 Lower Baggot Street, Dublin. A manuscript note at p. 168 in volume II, possibly in her hand, reads: "cloven foot again seen". c) Slightly later inscription "J. Jones, Black Rock circulating library" on second and third title pages, inscription erased but partly visible on first title page. In the mid-19th century, the district of Blackrock in Dublin was home to a circulating library, Hill's Select Lending Library, with premises at 16 Main Street. Hill's Select was associated with Mudie's offices in London, the largest circulating library in England. Lyles IB1f; Wise, p. 21. Esther Schor, "Introduction", in The Cambridge Companion to Mary Shelley, 2003. Three vols in one, large duodecimo (183 x 108 mm). Twentieth-century half calf, spine with gilt raised bands, black morocco label, blind tooling in compartments, marbled paper boards, original endpapers preserved, edges sprinkled brown. With publisher's terminal advertisement leaf in Vol. I. One corner bumped, inner hinges superficially split, but firm, first title page toned and with small tape repair at foot on verso, occasional faint foxing and marks to contents, couple of marginal paper flaws or short closed tears not affecting text, one gathering standing slightly proud. A very good copy.

Mary Shelley's "Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus" stands as a cornerstone of gothic literature and a prized artifact in the rare book market. Published in 1818, the novel's lasting influence on literature, culture, and science fiction has made it highly sought after by collectors. This article explores the literary importance of "Frankenstein," its historical context, and the factors contributing to its rarity and value. "Frankenstein" is often regarded as one of the first science fiction novels. Its themes of unchecked ambition, the quest for knowledge, and the consequences of playing God have captivated readers for over two centuries. Shelley's exploration of complex ethical and philosophical questions has made the novel a subject of academic study and a timeless piece of literature. The story's impact on popular culture is profound, with numerous adaptations in film, theatre, and other media. The novel was conceived during the summer of 1816, known as the "Year Without a Summer," at the Villa Diodati near Lake Geneva. It emerged from a storytelling contest among Mary Shelley, her future husband Percy Bysshe Shelley, Lord Byron, and John Polidori. The first edition of "Frankenstein" was published anonymously in 1818 by the small London publishing house Lackington, Hughes, Harding, Mavor, & Jones. Only 500 copies were printed, and Mary Shelley's name did not appear as the author until the 1823 edition. The rarity of "Frankenstein" in the rare book market is mainly due to the scarcity of its first edition. With only 500 copies initially printed and the book's age, surviving copies are extremely rare. The fragile nature of early 19th-century books, combined with historical events such as wars and natural disasters, has further reduced the number of existing copies. The market value of a first edition of "Frankenstein" can reach staggering amounts. In recent years, well-preserved copies have been auctioned for hundreds of thousands of dollars. For instance, a first edition copy sold at a Christie's auction in 2021 for $1.17 million.