Frankenstein: an exquisite first edition - photo 1
Frankenstein: an exquisite first edition - photo 2
Frankenstein: an exquisite first edition - photo 3
Frankenstein: an exquisite first edition - photo 4

Frankenstein: an exquisite first edition

Lot 36
12.12.2024 00:00UTC +00:00
Classic
To bid, go to the website
CHRISTIE'S
AuctioneerCHRISTIE'S
Event locationUnited Kingdom, London
Buyer Premiumsee on Website%
ID 1353364
Lot 36 | Frankenstein: an exquisite first edition
Estimate value
£ 250 000 – 350 000
[SHELLEY, Mary Wollstonecraft (1797-1851).] Frankenstein: or, The Modern Prometheus. London: Lackington, Hughes, Harding, Mavor, and Jones, 1818.

An exquisite first edition of Frankenstein in a contemporary binding, with provenance linked to Jane Austen and Mary Wollstonecraft.

Frankenstein was conceived during the rainy summer of 1816 beside Lake Geneva, where the author and Percy Shelley were staying with Lord Byron. It was Byron’s suggestion that the group, who had amused themselves with reading French translations of German ghost stories, should each write their own. ‘I busied myself to think of a story’, Shelley later wrote, ‘—a story to rival those which had excited us to this task. One which would speak to the mysterious fears of our nature, and awaken thrilling horror—one to make the reader dread to look round, to curdle the blood, and quicken the beatings of the heart.’

Published anonymously on 1 January 1818 in a run of 500 copies, the first edition included a preface written by Percy Shelley and a dedication to the author’s father, William Godwin. The present copy bears the ownership inscription of Sir Gilbert East (1764-1828) of Hall Place, who had been a student at Steventon under Jane Austen’s father George Austen from 1779-1783 and was the subject of Mrs Austen’s poem ‘Epistle to G. East, Esqr’. East’s father, Sir William East (1738-1819), was an acquaintance of Austen’s aunt Mrs Leigh-Perrot, and was a friend and benefactor to Mary Shelley’s mother, Mary Wollstonecraft, after her attempted suicide in 1796. Sir William receives special commendation in Godwin’s memoirs for the kindness he showed to Wollstonecraft at this time.

The single-volume format of this copy is rare: RareBookHub records just one other single-volume copy in a contemporary binding in over 30 years. A splendid copy of Frankenstein linking three of the foremost female writers of the era.

Three volumes bound in one, 12mo (173 x 106mm). Half-titles present for each volume (lacking adverts, minor closed tear to margin of D5 in vol. 1, small chips to blank corners of 2 leaves including second title, some mostly marginal stains or thumb-soiling). Contemporary tree calf by Burton and Batty of Maidenhead with their ticket to front pastedown, red morocco lettering piece (upper joint neatly repaired, lower joint very tender); custom quarter calf case. Provenance: Sir Gilbert East, 2nd Baronet of Hall Place, Maidenhead (1764–1828; ownership signature dated 1824 on inner margin of first title page. The Catalogue of the Library at Hall Place, Berks (1854) lists a single-volume Frankenstein first edition on Case 4, Shelf 9. Sir Gilbert left a very eccentric will, with lavish provisions for his pets and incredible specificity as to the material, decoration, and scenting of his coffin) – Philip C. Duschnes (bookseller’s ticket to rear pastedown).
Place of origin:England
Auction house category:Printed books
Address of auction CHRISTIE'S
8 King Street, St. James's
SW1Y 6QT London
United Kingdom
Preview
28.11.2024 – 12.12.2024
Phone +44 (0)20 7839 9060
Email
4FQ.AYGKAGLUQ@FO3G@
Buyer Premium see on Website
Conditions of purchaseConditions of purchase

Related terms

Frequently asked questions

First of all, you should register to be able to purchase at auction. After confirming your email address, enter your personal information in your user profile, such as your first name, last name, and mail address. Choose a lot from the upcoming auction and the maximum amount you want to place on it. After confirmation of your choice, we will send your application by e-mail to the appropriate auction house. If the auction house accepts a request, it will participate in the auction. You can view the current status of a bid at any time in your personal account in the "Bids" section.
Auctions are performed by auction houses and each of the auction houses describes their terms of auction. You can see the texts in the section "Auction information".
The results of the auction are published within a few days after the end of the auction. In the top menu of the site, find the tab "Auctions". Click on it and you will be on the auction catalog page, where you can easily find the category "Results". After opening it, select the desired auction from the list, enter and view the current status of the interested lot.
The information about the auction winners is confidential. The auction winner will receive a direct notification from the auction house responsible with instructions for further action: an invoice for payment and the manner in which the goods will be received.
Each of the auction houses has its own payment policy for the won lots. All auction houses accept bank transfers, most of them accept credit card payments. In the near future you will find detailed information for each case in the section "Auction information" on the page of the auction catalog and the lot.
Shipment of the won lot depends on its size. Small items can be delivered by post. Larger lots are sent by courier. Employees of the auction houses will offer you a wide range to choose from.
No. The archive serves as a reference for the study of auction prices, photographs and descriptions of works of art.
?>