Books

New York: Scribner, Armstrong, 1875; 1875; 1876. First editions of the three books that combined create "The Mysterious Island" Trilogy. Hardcover. Good. 3 vols.: viii, 9-310, [2]; viii, 1-304, [8]; viii, 299, [1] p. 19 cm. Each volume has frontispiece and 48 other plates. Green cloth with black and gold impressing. Bevelled edges. Mylar wraps, removed for photos. Corners and spine ends a bit worn worn. Bookplate and small label on front pastedowns. Ink inscription on a front endpaper in vol. III. Vol. II is missing that leaf but it was once present and inscribed as ink slightly marked the front free endpaper verso. Margin stains up to Vol. III p. 73. Occasional light marks elsewhere. Pencil inscriptions on last pages of text. A few signatures jutting out a bit. Kingston's translation made a few changes from Verne's original French; the hero's surname is changed from Smith to Harding and many technical passages are abridged or omitted. Unfortunately, Kingston's became the standard…

In 'The Mysterious Island', Jules Verne combines adventure and elements of science fiction to tell the story of a group of castaways who endeavor to survive and solve the mystery of their abandoned locale. Using ingenuity and science, the protagonists uncover secrets including the existence of Captain Nemo, the enigmatic figure from 'Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea'.

The first American Edition was published in 1876.