Olga Romanoff, George Griffith — 1st Edition

£550.10

Olga Romanoff, George Griffith — 1st Edition

Name: Olga Romanoff, George Griffith — 1st Edition
Brand: Broadhursts Books
SKU: 4376
Price: 550.10 GBP
Availability: InStock

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Publication: London, Tower Publishing Company Limited, 1894

Formatting: 8vo, pp. [viii], 377, [1] + errata slip and publisher's catalogue.

Condition Report Very Good. The original pictorial cloth binding remains sound and securely holds the text block, exhibiting moderate shelf-wear typical of its vintage. The spine extremities are mildly bumped and rubbed, showing a touch of fraying at the head and tail, while the board corners display minor softening. The striking front cover illustration of Olga Romanoff remains highly distinct, though the gilt and stamped colors have gently mellowed over the decades, and the plain rear board presents generalised surface rubbing. The book is currently protected in a clear plastic sleeve. Internally, the binding is pleasantly tight. The pages are largely clean and bright, save for occasional, isolated instances of light age-toning typical of late 19th-century paper stock. A neat, contemporaneous previous ownership inscription is present on the front endpaper, adding a subtle touch of history without detracting from the overall integrity of this well-preserved volume.

Catalogue Note This scarce true First Edition, First Issue of George Griffith's pioneering science fiction novel. It is impressively complete with the rarely retained original errata slip and the publisher's catalogue bound at the rear, details that are frequently absent from copies circulating on the open market. Printed in Edinburgh by Morrison and Gibb, the text block is introduced by a dramatic frontispiece illustration facing the title page.

The preliminary pages feature a modest early ownership inscription reading 'J. Pickup /96', providing a faint but charming trace of Victorian provenance. True first issues of this title in their original publisher’s pictorial cloth, which prominently displays the Tower Publishing imprint at the foot of both the spine and the front board, have become increasingly elusive. Complete, unrestored examples such as this are highly desirable to collectors of early scientific romance.

Following the immense success of The Angel of the Revolution, George Griffith returns to his thrilling utopian future with Olga Romanoff, or The Syren of the Skies. Set over a century after the original revolutionary wars, the world has enjoyed an era of unprecedented peace under the Aerians—until the emergence of the brilliant, megalomaniacal Olga Romanoff. A descendant of the deposed Russian Tsars, Olga discovers forgotten technology, constructs a devastating fleet of aerial battleships, and allies with the remnants of fallen empires to plunge the world back into chaos. Combining high-stakes aerial warfare, political intrigue, and the looming threat of a cataclysmic comet, Griffith’s visionary romance is a fast-paced, apocalyptic masterpiece that cemented his legacy as a titan of early British science fiction.

Book Condition: Very Good

Book Authors: George Griffith

Book Publisher: Tower Publishing Company Limited.

Book Language: English

Narrative Type: Fiction

Genre: Science Fiction

Book edition: First Edition

Signed: No

Book Pages: 377

Book Publication Year: 1894

Book Publication Date:

Book Binding: Hardcover (Original Pictoral Cloth)

Illustrator: Fred T. Jane

Book Series: A Sequel to 'The Angel of the Revolution'

Country/region of manufacture: Edinburgh, 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.