Books

First printing. 4to. [2], 4, [2] pp. Original illustrated wrappers. London, Jeffery?s. The sheet music and lyrics of ?The Dispensary Doctor? in Frankenstein, or The Vampire?s Victim the 1887 burlesque production of Frankenstein. ?The Dispensary Doctor? was sung by E. J. Lonen, who plays Visconti the Viscount Vampire, and written and composed by Robert Martin, who wrote ?incidental songs? for the play. Rare. OCLC/ Library hub list only three copies held institutionally world-wide, all three in the UK, University Oxford Library, National Library of Scotland, and the British Library. The full score was also published by Jeffery?s and is similarly rare, with five copies held world-wide, at University Oxford Library, University of Glasgow Library, the British Library, Stanford University Library, and Harvard University. There was no publication of the text, but The British Library holds the typescript licensed for performance by the Office of the Lord Chamberlain on 19 December 1887. A very good copy, with tape reinforcement along the spine, and trimmed along the bottom edge with some loss of text only effecting the front cover. .

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.