Treasure Island.

STEVENSON, Robert Louis.

$15,000.00

Item Number: 147069

London: Cassell & Company, 1883.

First edition, first issue of Stevenson’s timeless tale of adventure which set the gold standard for the pirate genre. With the following first issue points: 8 page publisher’s list at end, December ads numbered 5E-12.83; “dead man’s chest” not capitalized on pp. 2 or 7; broken type of “vain” in the last line on p. 40; “a” missing in line 6, p. 63; p. 83 with 8 present in the page number; 7 not present in the pagination of p. 127; period not present on line 20 of page 178; “worse” instead of “worst” on line 3 of page 197. Octavo, original sage green cloth, tissue-guarded frontispiece map. In near fine condition with light rubbing. Housed in a custom full morocco slipcase and chemise. An exceptional example, rare in this condition.

“Inspired by a detailed map of an island that Stevenson and his stepson drew one rainy day, with hidden treasure and cryptic instructions reverently included… Treasure Island is best enjoyed as its author intended, simply as a good tale well told” (Silvey, 631). The serial publication in Young Folks (running through January 1882) was not especially well-received, but on its appearance in book form the following year in an edition of only 2000 copies, the story was hailed as the best tale of adventure in print. “The force of invention and vividness of narrative appealed to every reader” (DNB).