Helen's Babies, John Habberton — 1st Edition

£50.00

Helen's Babies, John Habberton — 1st Edition

Name: Helen's Babies, John Habberton — 1st Edition
Brand: Broadhursts Books
SKU: 6245
Price: 50.00 GBP
Availability: InStock

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Publication: London, William Mullan & Son, 1877

Formatting: 8vo, pp. [vi], 126.

Condition Report: Very Good. This copy remains remarkably bright and attractive for its age, bound in the publisher's original green cloth. The gilt and black pictorial stamping on the front board and spine remains notably sharp and unoxidised, though the extremities of the spine and board corners show light rubbing and minor shelf-wear. The hinges are secure, and the binding remains suitably tight. Internally, the text block is generally clean, though some expected age-toning and mild scattered spotting are present, primarily affecting the endpapers and preliminary leaves. The text block edges are moderately toned, but the pages remain supple and without tears. Overall, it is a well-preserved, handsome, and robust example of a fragile Victorian printing.

Catalogue Note: This is an early and scarce UK printing of John Habberton's immensely popular novel, published shortly after the original American edition. The author initially published the work anonymously, playfully attributing it 'By Their Latest Victim' on the title page, a detail faithfully retained in this early issue.

The work features a charming and vibrant pictorial cloth binding that perfectly captures the whimsical and mischievous tone of the story. A neat, contemporary ownership inscription dated the year of publication on the front endpaper adds an authentic touch of historical provenance to the volume.

Copies of this specific Mullan imprint are notably scarce on the open market today. While later Victorian and Edwardian reprints by other publishing houses are frequently encountered, early issues like this remain elusive for collectors.

Originally published anonymously, Helen's Babies became a runaway literary sensation upon its release, much to the surprise of its author, John Habberton. The novel offers a hilarious and endearing semi-autobiographical account of a bachelor uncle left in charge of his two wildly rambunctious nephews, Toddie and Budge, for ten days. What follows is a delightful descent into chaos, capturing the innocent yet devastatingly destructive nature of children with sharp wit and Victorian charm. A timeless piece of comedic fiction that resonates just as strongly with modern readers as it did with its 19th-century audience.

Book Condition: Very Good

Book Authors: John Habberton

Book Publisher: William Mullan & Son

Book Language: English

Narrative Type: Fiction

Genre: Humour Fiction

Book edition: First Edition

Signed: No

Book Pages:

Book Publication Year: 1877

Book Publication Date:

Book Binding: Hardcover

Illustrator: N/A

Book Series: N/A

Country/region of manufacture: London, United Kingdom

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.