1869 Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus by Mary W. Shelley. Sever... Boston. Protected by striking morocco leather clamshell.

The third American edition of Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus, by Mary W. Shelley, printed in 1869 by Sever, Francis and Co. of Boston and Cambridge. This copy in protected in a stunning leather fine-binding style clamshell.

About Frankenstein (in extreme brief) -

Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus is an 1818 novel written by English author Mary Shelley. Frankenstein tells the story of Victor Frankenstein, a young scientist who creates a sapient creature in an unorthodox scientific experiment. Shelley started writing the story when she was 18, and the first edition was published anonymously in London on 1 January 1818, when she was 20. Her name first appeared in the second edition, which was published in Paris in 1821.

Shelley travelled through Europe in 1815, moving along the river Rhine in Germany, and stopping in Gernsheim, 11 miles away from Frankenstein Castle, where, two centuries before, an alchemist had engaged in experiments. She then journeyed to the region of Geneva, Switzerland, where much of the story takes place. Galvanism and occult ideas were topics of conversation for her companions, particularly for her lover and future husband Percy B. Shelley.

In 1816, the largest eruption recorded in history occurred, Mount Tambora, causing “The Year Without a Summer”. Temperatures plummeted across the globe. Crops struggled and stories abound of the hardships of 1816. That year, while travelling, Mary, Percy and Lord Byron had a competition to see who could write the best horror story; it is told that they couldn’t recreate outside due to the weather. After thinking for days, Shelley was inspired to write Frankenstein after imagining a scientist who created life and was horrified by what he had made.

Shelley completed her writing in April/May 1817, and Frankenstein or, The Modern Prometheus was published on 1 January 1818 by the small London publishing house Lackington, Hughes, Harding, Mavor, & Jones. It was issued anonymously, with a preface written for Mary by Percy Bysshe Shelley and with a dedication to philosopher William Godwin, her father. It was published in an edition of just 500 copies in three volumes, the standard "triple-decker" format for 19th-century first editions.

A French translation appeared as early as 1821. The second English edition of Frankenstein was published on 11 August 1823 in two volumes (by G. and W. B. Whittaker) following the success of the stage play Presumption; or, the Fate of Frankenstein by Richard Brinsley Peake. This edition credited Mary Shelley as the book's author on its title page.

On 31 October 1831, the first "popular" edition in one volume appeared, published by Henry Colburn & Richard Bentley. This edition was heavily revised by Mary Shelley and Percy Bysshe Shelley, partially to make the story less radical. It included a lengthy new preface by the author, presenting a somewhat embellished version of the genesis of the story. This edition is the one most widely published and read now, although a few editions follow the 1818 text.

This 1869 Boston edition is a reprinting of the 1831 Bentley's text.

This edition includes Shelley's prefaces to both the 1818 edition and the 1831 Bentley's edition.

The Davidson College Archives posted an article, Frankenstein: the Anniversary showing photos of their copy of the 1869 Boston edition. Their copy shows a variant in the bindings, with advertisements printed on publisher supplied colored paper at the front and back. This copy (here for sale) is from a different binding style, that was simpler and lacked the advertisements on publisher's paper. This copy does have printed advertisements at the rear, matching the Harvard College Library copy (which is scanned to Google Books).

More on the Editions -

This is the third American edition, after the 1833 Philadelphia edition and the 1845 New York edition. It is estimated to be about the 10th printing of the book, when you include all the internationally issued editions.

At a recent Christie's auction, a first edition 1818 printing sold for $1.17 million.
Bibliographic Details -

Worldcat OCLC number 981149. Worldcat records "This edition in 31 libraries".

Physical Attributes -

Book measures approx. 18.7 x 13 x 1.2 cm. Gatherings of 8 (except last). 19th century publisher's binding with a patterned design and the title in gilt on front board and spine; central leaf ornament to both boards.

The protective black morocco clamshell was executed by the binder Karen McGuire (Australia). The front board has the title and author in gilt. The clamshell has green overlays, with stitching patters made by pointelle gilt application with blind fillets. The book rests on green velvet-like material within.

Pages - (Title page is "1"). 1-177 (178 blank). 1 leaf of advertisement at the rear, then an entirely blank leaf.

Collation - Signed in eights. Signatures 1 through 10 have 8 leaves. Signature 11 has 10 leaves and a page of advertisement.

Condition -

See pictures. Clamshell recently produced by the immensely talented binder Karen McGuire; only a few finger ring impressions and the lightest rubs to note. Book was also respined, with the original spine re-laid. Corners also repaired to match. The gilt of the spine label has faded slightly. There is a crack at the top of the front board. The creases at the joints are not perfectly uniform. Library bookplate on pastedown.

Text block with occasional rust spots throughout; also, occasional thumb, toning (especially near edges), light ink smudge, dog-eared page, corner chip, small fore-edge tear, etc.

Title page with simple older repair to 1 cm tear at top edge. "1673" written on rear of title page. Same 1 cm tear on 2nd leaf and with older repair on 3rd leaf, this small tear continues through the 1st gathering (eight leaves). Also, the 5th leaf has another 1 cm tear at top-edge. Small chip at top-edge of 159/160.