Click here to see our other books!
The Moonstone: A Dramatic Story, in Three Acts
Wilkie Collins
1877
Charles Dickens & Evans, Crystal Palace Press : [London]
7.5" by 5.5"
[6], 4-88pp
SUMMARY
A beautiful example of Wilkie Collins's very scarce stage adaptation of 'The Moonstone', a work never widely published, and 'privately printed for the convenience of the Author'. In a beautiful Riviere solander box.
Fine Binding,First Edition,Publishers' Original Binding,Signed Binding,Very Scarce
Overall Condition: Near Fine
This book weighs 1 KG when packed
Canada/US Postage: £ 22.99
EU Postage: £ 16.99
European Postage: £ 17.99
Asia Postage: £ 22.99
Worldwide Postage: £ 28.99
DESCRIPTION
A very scarce work, adapted by Collins himself - with the aid of Charles Dickens - from his enormously successful 1868 novel.
In the publisher's original paper wraps.
The work is held in a cloth chemise and housed in a beautiful signed half crushed morocco solander box by Riviere.
Wilkie Collins's important early detective novel was an impressive work which set many of the ground rules for the modern mystery genre. It was initially serialised in Charles Dickens's periodical 'All the Year Round'.
In an effort to capitalise on the success of his work, Collins adapted the novel for the stage, with the title page identifying that 'This Play is not published. It is privately printed for the convenience of the Author'.
This stage adaptation is arranged in four acts, and was performed at the Royal Olympic Theatre from the 17th September to the 17th November, 1877. This adaptation was perhaps oversimplified, with Collins omitting the characters of Rosanna Spearman, Ezra Jennings, and the Indian jugglers. Furthermore, he restricted the action to a twenty-four hour period.
The cloth chemise bears the morocco bookplate of W.A. Foyle of Beeleigh Abbey.
Immensely popularly when first published, 'The Moonstone' was a prime example of Victorian sensation fiction. The production, however, failed to achieve the success that the novel experienced, and two key players left the cast before the end of the run.
CONDITION
In the publisher's original plain blue paper wraps. Housed in a fine signed half crushed morocco solander box from Riviere, with cloth covered boards, and gilt detailing to the back strip, and in a fine later cloth chemise. Faint handling marks to paper wraps, with a very small diagonal fold to the head of the front wrap, and light spotting to front joint. Internally, firmly bound. Pages exceptionally bright, with only one or two very light instances of spotting.
Overall Condition: Near Fine
GLOSSARY OF TERMS
Overall Condition
Fine - Very well preserved copy showing very little wear
Very Good Indeed - Only one or two minor faults, really a very attractive copy
Very Good - Quite a wide term meaning no major faults but probably several smaller ones
often expected given the age of the book, but still a respectable copy
Good - Meaning not very good. Some more serious faults as will
be described in the condition report under 'condition'
Good Only - Meaning one or more faults that could really do with repair
Fair - As with good only above but with other faults
leaving a compromised copy even after repair
Poor - Really bad and possibly seriously incomplete.
We only sell books in this condition where their rarity or value makes them
attractive none the less. Major defects will be described.
GUARANTEE
We offer a full money back guarantee on our descriptions.
Please ask for details and conditions. We prefer PAYPAL.
If you pay via PAYPAL we will post the item off the same or the next working day with the postage you have selected.
Please note we cannot accept USD cheques