The Prisoner of Zenda, Anthony Hope — 1st Edition, Early Issue

£260.00

The Prisoner of Zenda, Anthony Hope — 1st Edition, Early Issue

Name: The Prisoner of Zenda, Anthony Hope — 1st Edition, Early Issue
Brand: Broadhursts Books
SKU: 4883
Price: 260.00 GBP
Availability: InStock

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Publication: Bristol, J.W. Arrowsmith / London, Simpkin, Marshall, Hamilton, Kent & Company Limited, 1894

Formatting: 8vo, pp. iv, 310, [2].

Condition Report: Very Good. The book is presented in the publisher's original maroon cloth, which remains structurally sound and tight, lacking the spine roll or looseness common to this edition. The gilt lettering to the front board remains bright and unoxidised, though the spine exhibits the typical sun-fading, toning to a softer brown, accompanied by light shelf-wear to the extremities. Internally, the pages are clean and the hinges sound, with the text block showing natural age-toning. The preliminary leaves feature some scattered foxing and a contemporary ownership signature ("Wish to ... Jan 6, 96.") to the front free endpaper, which is entirely consistent with a volume of this age. Overall, it presents as a highly attractive, solid copy.

Catalogue Note: This is an early issue of the first edition of Anthony Hope’s definitive adventure novel. While the true first issue points for The Prisoner of Zenda can be complex, this copy possesses the established hallmarks of an early issue (often designated as the second or third issue by bibliographers): the presence of six titles listed under "By the same Author" on the title page verso, the uncrossed 'f' in "of" on the spine, and its inclusion as "Vol. XVIII" in Arrowsmith’s 3/6 Series at the rear.

The novel was initially published without a date on the title page in 1894. This copy is firmly grounded in its period by a contemporary ownership inscription on the front free endpaper dated "Jan 6, 96" (1896), establishing its early provenance. True first editions of this title in the original publisher's cloth, and lacking a dust jacket, as is almost universally the case, are increasingly scarce on the open market, especially in structurally tight condition without severe spine wear.

Anthony Hope’s The Prisoner of Zenda is the quintessential swashbuckling adventure that single-handedly birthed the "Ruritanian romance" genre. When the rightful king of the fictional nation of Ruritania is drugged on the eve of his coronation by his treacherous brother, an English gentleman on holiday, who bears an uncanny resemblance to the monarch, is persuaded to step into his shoes. What begins as a temporary political decoy rapidly descends into a perilous game of court intrigue, swordplay, and star-crossed romance. Fast-paced and endlessly thrilling, it remains a cornerstone of nineteenth-century adventure fiction.

Book Condition: Very Good

Book Authors: Anthony Hope

Book Publisher: J.W. Arrowsmith

Book Language: English

Narrative Type: Fiction

Genre: Adventure

Book edition: First Edition

Signed: No

Book Pages: 316

Book Publication Year: 1894

Book Publication Date:

Book Binding: Cloth

Illustrator: N/A

Book Series: Arrowsmith's 3/6 Series

Country/region of manufacture: Bristol, 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.