Kipling, Rudyard

The Jungle Book with: The Second Jungle Book

New York, NY: The Century Co., 1895; 1898. Early Edition; First American Edition. Hardcovers. The classic novel-in-stories & its sequel by Rudyard Kipling (1865-1936), the canonical British author & journalist. While Kipling may not be favored by our current, intolerantly "liberal" literary establishment for his indeed pronounced advocacy of colonial imperialism & what is now viewed as the appropriation of native cultures, his writings, with their quality & adventurous excitement, nevertheless have a time-tested, immortal place in world literature. In these allegorical-fantasy chapter-stories, all-too-human archetypes are represented by animal characters (in certain respects we think they can be considered precursors to George Orwell's Animal Farm); & the central character of the little boy Mowgli raised by the animals in the jungles of India is an iconic figure beloved by children & adults. The most recent of many adaptations of Jungle Book tales in various media over generations is the blockbuster live-&-animated award-winning Disney-produced film of 2016. (1) The Jungle Book, early American edition published by The Century Co. dated 1898 (originally published as a complete book simultaneously in Britain & America in 1894). With many illustrations & tableaus, some by John Lockwood Kipling, Rudyard's father, here uncredited. Hardcover in green cloth with gilt lettering, black & embossed illustrations & decorations on covers & spine. We have not seen references to or images of any dust jacket issued with this edition, if such existed it is not present on this copy. (2) The Second Jungle Book, first American edition of 1895 published by The Century Co., issued simultaneously with the first British edition that year. Hardcover in orange cloth with gilt lettering & embossed decorations on covers & spine. With illustrations & tableaus by John Lockwood Kipling, credited here on title page. As with (1), no dust jacket present, if any was issued. Two very handsome & collectible editions of Kipling's ever-popular creations. (1) in relatively near-fine unrestored condition with moderate rubbing to front, back covers & spine; moderate wear to edges & corners of same; green cloth color faded in small areas esp. spine-edges & corners; moderate browning & rubbing to side & lower edges of text block (uncut as issued); moderate rubbing, scratching & fading to gilt upper edge of same. Interior fine with mild browning & occasional spotting esp. to blank margins of page leaves; vintage owner signature on blank front endpaper with date of "Dec 25" 1898" (Christmas day in year of this printing). (2) also relatively near-fine & unrestored with moderate rubbing to front, back covers & spine; moderate wear to edges & corners of same with slight fraying, loss of orange cloth color esp. at spine-edges & corners; small bumps at lower outer corners of covers; moderate browning & rubbing to side & lower edges of text block (uncut as issued); moderate rubbing, scratching, fading & small spot-stain near spine to gilt upper edge of same. Interior near-fine with mild browning & occasional spotting esp. to blank margins of page leaves; sewn signature (pgs. 67-74) quite loosened but not entirely removed from spine; vintage, undated owner signature written in bold blue ink along blank outer side margin of pg. 16; front blank endpaper leaf appears to have been removed. Near Fine. [Item #4276]

Price: $450.00