“PIECES OF EIGHT! PIECES OF EIGHT!”: FIRST EDITION OF STEVENSON’S TREASURE ISLAND, HANDSOMELY BOUND

STEVENSON, Robert Louis. Treasure Island. London: Cassell, 1883. Small octavo, early 20th-century full green crushed morocco gilt, raised bands, marbled endpapers, top edge gilt. Housed in a custom cloth clamshell box.

First edition, first issue of Stevenson’s swashbuckling yarn of piracy, mutiny and courage, “the finest tale of maritime adventure that has been told since Defoe” (Prideaux, 28), handsomely bound by Bayntun.

“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). “Here were adventure, suspense, drama, all set down by the hand of a recognizable genius” (Meigs et al., 238). With its evocative style, rich in atmospheric detail; its relentlessly fast-paced plotting; and its superbly drawn characterizations—most notably the unforgettable villainy of Long John Silver—Treasure Island has won the loyalty of readers young and old. First issue, with all the following points: “Dead Man’s Chest” not capitalized on pages 2 and 7; “rain” for “vain” on last line of page 40; “a” lacking on page 63, line 6; period dropped from page 178, line 20 (after “opportunity”); “worse” for ‘worst’ on page 197, line 3; frontispiece map captions printed in three colors: red, brown and blue. With eight-page publisher’s catalogue dated 5R-1083 at the end, and with this title listed incorrectly as having 304 pages. In this copy the “7” in the pagination of page 127 has been stamped by hand, in some first-issue copies the numeral is absent altogether. Beinecke 240. Prideaux 11. Gerstley Collection 22. Osborne, 1030. Gumuchian 5443. Pierpoint Morgan, Children’s Literature 241. Faded early owner inscription on half title.

Scattered foxing. Fine condition. A handsome copy of this timeless classic.