£150
FIRST EDITION, FIRST PRINTING, third state, 8vo, pp. [vi], 315, [3, ads]. Black and white illustrations throughout. Original blue cloth, front board blocked in black, spine lettered in gilt, ads to endpapers, no flyleaf as issued. Half-title toned. Rebacked preserving original backstrip, hinges relined, cloth a little soiled and worn at edges, small stain to front board.
The third state of the true first edition, probably dating from December 1889. The first publication was in early autumn, and various states are distinguished by wear to the plates and correction of errors over subsequent weeks. The second state features a 'moon' in the illustration on p. 20 (probably caused by a plate flaw) and the inverted decorative initials on pp. 77 and 95 are corrected, then in this third the heading on the front pastedown is altered to read '11, Quay Street' instead of 'J. Arrowsmith'. Further printing flaws separate a fourth state and then subsequent printings amend the imprint on the title-page.
