Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea (First UK Edition)

EXTREMELY RARE FIRST UK EDITION OF VERNE'S LITERARY AND SCIENTIFIC TREASURE.

First UK edition. London: Samson, Low, Marston, Low and Searle, 1873. 8vo. Early quarter charcoal Morocco and blue cloth hardcover. Pages: frontispiece, viii, 303, 109 illustrations throughout, 8 pages of advertisements.

Bound in later quarter charcoal Morocco and blue cloth. Lettering on spine stamped in gilt. 5 raised bands on spine. Gilt along top edge. Dedication from father to his son on front free end paper: "To Jimmy, With love from Daddy. Xmas 1949". Very good. Bindings have some wear and soiling along edges of cloth covers. Leather well preserved, supple and strong. Spine gilt remains bright and bold. Contents near fine and complete, some foxing here and there. More prevalent at prelims. 

A true first English language edition of Vern's Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea. The UK edition is known to have been printed in late 1872, however it lists the publication date at 1873, as called for. Of note, the lack of "With One Hundred and Twelve Illustrations." on the title page denotes this as one of the two variant UK first editions. This variant contains 109 illustrations, all present in this copy. Interestingly, this edition contains 8 pages of advertisements at the rear, rather than the 6 generally associated with this variant. Alongside this, this edition contains the pagination error of 442 on page 142. Bound in attractive half Black Morocco and blue cloth.

Jules Verne's Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea stands as one of literature's most enduring masterpieces, a visionary work that sparked the imagination of generations and helped birth the entire science fiction genre. Published in 1870, this extraordinary novel didn't merely tell a story—it prophesied the future of underwater exploration and inspired countless inventors, explorers, and dreamers.

Few books have maintained such consistent popularity across more than 150 years. Twenty Thousand Leagues has never been out of print, spawning countless adaptations from Disney's beloved 1954 film to modern television series, video games, and theatrical productions. The novel's themes of scientific wonder, environmental stewardship, and the complex relationship between progress and responsibility remain strikingly relevant today.

Presenting someone with a first edition of this masterpiece offers more than a beautiful object—it's gifting a connection to literary history and scientific imagination. This book represents the moment when literature began seriously exploring the possibilities of technology and the mysteries of our planet's unexplored frontiers.

For the literature lover, it's a cornerstone work that influenced an entire genre. For the science enthusiast, it's a fascinating glimpse into visionary thinking that preceded actual technological development. For the collector, it's a treasure that connects them to the golden age of adventure literature and scientific romance.

Whether displayed in a personal library or carefully preserved as an investment, a first edition of Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea embodies the enduring power of imagination to inspire, educate, and transform our understanding of what's possible. It remains a perfect gift for anyone who believes in the power of books to change the world—because this one quite literally did.

This book is currently not on display in store.

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