Dr. Zell and the Princess Charlotte, Warren Richardson — 1st Edition

£345.00

Dr. Zell and the Princess Charlotte, Warren Richardson — 1st Edition

Name: Dr. Zell and the Princess Charlotte, Warren Richardson — 1st Edition
Brand: Broadhursts Books
SKU: 4262
Price: 345.00 GBP
Availability: InStock

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Publication: New York, L. Kabis and Company, Publishers, 1892.

Formatting: 8vo, pp. [viii], 342, [2].

Condition Report: Very Good. The bespoke half-leather binding over marbled boards remains tight and structurally sound, though it exhibits moderate shelf-wear characteristic of its age and library use. The leather extremities, particularly the corners and spine ends, show noticeable rubbing and some minor loss, slightly exposing the underlying boards at the very tips. The spine's gilt lettering and ruled bands remain relatively unoxidised and legible despite superficial scuffing to the leather. Internally, the book is remarkably well-preserved; the hinges are secure, and the pages are bright, crisp, and largely free of foxing, with only faint, even age-toning to the margins. The grey endpapers remain uncracked, holding the prominent armorial bookplate and shelf slip securely, rounding out a highly presentable and robust antiquarian volume.

Catalogue Note: First edition. The volume is presented in a handsome custom half-leather binding, a departure from the original light blue cloth, indicating it was specially rebound for a prestigious private collection.

This copy boasts exceptional provenance, hailing from the legendary Bibliotheca Lindesiana. The front paste-down bears the armorial bookplate of James Lindsay, 26th Earl of Crawford, along with a handwritten shelf slip ("172 / B"). The Lindesiana was one of the most magnificent private libraries in British history, ultimately containing over 100,000 printed books and renowned for its extraordinary rarity and sweeping scope.

As an eccentric piece of 19th-century American supernatural fiction, first editions of this title are already uncommon on the open market. The addition of a bespoke binding and direct ties to one of the era's greatest bibliophiles elevates this copy to a unique collector's piece.

An eccentric and highly engaging late 19th-century occult novel, Dr. Zell and the Princess Charlotte capitalises on the Victorian era's fervent fascination with spiritualism, mesmerism, and theosophy. The narrative follows the autobiographical adventures of a distinguished modern necromancer and seer, charting a thrilling course from a small New Hampshire town to New York City and the grand landscapes of Austria.

Author Warren Richardson packs the story with sensational motifs—astrology, ghosts, cross-dressing, and personality exchange—making it a remarkably progressive and wild ride for 1892. Unusually for the genre, the story culminates in a critical view of occult practices, offering a fascinatingly disenchanted counter-narrative to the prevailing supernatural enthusiasm of the time.

Book Condition: Very Good

Book Authors: Warren Richardson

Book Publisher: L. Kabis and Company, Publishers

Book Language: English

Narrative Type: Fiction

Genre: Fantasy

Book edition: First Edition

Signed: No

Book Pages: 344

Book Publication Year: 1892

Book Publication Date:

Book Binding: Hardcover (Half-Leather)

Illustrator: N/A

Book Series: N/A

Country/region of manufacture: New York, United States

Book Dimensions:

Book Condition Guide

We stock thousands of books in a wide range of conditions. To make things clear and to help you know exactly what to expect, Please refer to these condition categories to understand the condition of the book you will receive.

Condition	Description
New	A brand-new, unread and professionally handled book. Carefully preserved from publication to purchase, these books are offered in the best attainable condition. This grade applies to recently published titles that have not entered long-term storage.
As New	The book is in pristine, original condition as if just published. No signs of use or handling. The dust jacket (if present) is equally flawless. This grade applies to any book that has remained untouched in storage for years.
Fine	The book is close to As New. It remains bright and attractive, but could show minor imperfections to the boards and/or dust jacket (if present). Its pages are typically clean and unmarked.
Near Fine	The book has a number of small flaws, i.e. slight rubbing to the edges, or tiny chips or creases to the dust jacket (if present). Its pages may have faint marks, or creases that are barely perceptible — nothing that detracts from their overall condition.
Very Good	The book maintains its structural integrity, and has no major flaws such as tears to its binding or pages. It may, however, show signs of careful use, handling, or storage — small marks and creases, light foxing. Its dust jacket (if present) remains fully intact, but small tears may be present.
Good	A book that remains intact and readable with complete text pages, but shows moderate signs of wear and use to both the book and dust jacket (if present). It may have noticeable creases, nicks, or stains, and the spine likely shows fading, bumping, and rubbing. There could be writing, underlining, and other marks on some pages, though the majority will be clean and tidy.
Fair	A book with significant wear or damage. The text pages will be complete, but there may be heavy underlining, highlighting and staining throughout, and the book’s endpapers, half-title, and copyright pages could be damaged or missing. The binding could be loose, and the dust jacket (if present) may have notable scuffs or tears. These copies are usually of interest for content, signature(s) or scarcity.
Poor	A heavily worn book whose value lies in its complete and legible text. A poor book will have substantial defects — loose joints or hinges, detached covers, loose and/or missing pages, and could be heavily soiled. A poor book is also known as a reading copy, and although compromised, can hold historical or bibliographic significance.