1868 The Moonstone

Description

Fine Binding, First Edition, Leather Binding, Signed Binding

The sought after first edition, first state: pages 10 and 11 to Volume I transposed; with 'treachesrouly' to Volume II page 129; and a broken bracken to the tail of the title of Volume III.

A very rarely seen set of all first edition volumes. 

Half-title is present to each volume.

Bound without the publisher's adverts.

Finely bound in a sumptuous half crushed morocco binding by Riviere & Son.

The important early detective novel by Wilkie Collins, an impressive work which set many of the ground rules for the modern mystery genre. 

Immensely popularly when first published, 'The Moonstone' was a prime example of Victorian sensation fiction.

'The Moonstone' follows a young woman, Rachel Verinder, who suddenly inherts a large Indian diamond on her eighteenth birthday, from her corrupt army officer uncle. At her eighteenth birthday party Rachel wears the diamond, only to have it stolen from her bedroom later in the evening. This novel weaves together multiple narratives to solve the mystery of the missing diamond...

An interesting novel based on the legendary origins of the Hope Diamond and the Orloff Diamond, both impressive diamonds originating from India. 

This novel was first serialised in Charles Dickens' magazine 'All the Year Round'.

Bookplate of W. A. Foyle of Beeleigh Abbey to the front pastedowns.