Invisible Man, First Edition (439 results)

First American Edition; with some minor textual differences and an epilogue not included in the English edition. Some cloth soiling and wear; some old, hardly noticeable mending to the front endpaper; very good in a custom clamshell box. Presentation copy; inscribed by Wells with two drawings, '[drawing of a fireplace and a chair and a steaming bowl] To J. Maclaren Cobban, from H.G. Wells [drawing of a small figure - presumably Wells - with a bowl labeled ÔGRUEL'] When they were both ill. 1898.' Cobban was primarily a novelist of adventure and fantasy fiction, and was also a contributor to the Strand Magazine. Inscribed copies of the Wells 'scientific romances' are especially scarce. All books described as first editions are first printings unless otherwise noted.

First edition. Original red cloth with gilt lettering to the spine and vignette in black on the front cover. Author's presentation copy, to fellow author, W.W. Jacobs. Inscribed on the half title, "W.W. Jacobs. from H.G. Wells". A very good copy, with the spine faded and a little wear to the corners. The covers are bright and the hinges sound, with some browning to the page edges. Loosely inserted in the book is Jacobs's woven silk bookmark bearing his monogram. Probably the most famous of Wells's 'scientific romances', in which a scientist finds a way of turning himself invisible without the means to make himself visible again. Wells explores the morality of being able to go unseen as it causes the protagonist to become mentally unstable. Inscribed first editions of this work are rare and this one has the added bonus of being a gift to another 19th century detective fiction writer. William Wymark Jacobs (1863-1943), author of novels and short stories, wrote in a number of genres, but is best known for his supernatural thrillers such as The Monkey's Paw.

First edition, first impression, presentation copy, inscribed by the author on the half-title, "W. W. Jacobs from H. G. Wells", with the recipient's embroidered silk bookmark laid in. The recipient was Wells's friend and fellow writer, the author of the enduring "The Monkey's Paw", which is frequently anthologized and studied alongside Wells's "The Moth". Despite being left-wing in his youth, Jacobs described his political opinions in later years as "conservative and individualistic", and he was on friendly terms with Wells, despite openly disdaining his politics. Although W. W. Jacobs's popularity has fallen in contrast to that of Wells, at one time only Kipling commanded a higher price for short fiction in The Strand Magazine. Originally serialized in Pearson's Weekly in 1897, The Invisible Man was influential in establishing Wells's reputation as the father of science fiction. Wells Soc.11; Hammond B4; Currey p. 520. Octavo. Original red cloth, titles to front board and spine gilt, device to front board in black. Housed in a red quarter morocco solander box by the Chelsea Bindery. Contents browned as usual, spine faded and a little rolled, rear inside board slightly affected by damp with a little bleed onto endpapers, still very good.

Hardcover. Condition: Near Fine. 1st Edition. Herbert George Wells (1897) The Invisible Man. A Grotesque Romance , UK first edition, first printing, published by Arthur Pearson. Signed by the author on the half title page. From the library of Pulitzer Prize winning author Larry McMurtry with his bookplate pasted to the front paste down as shown. Publisher s red cloth, decoratively stamped in black and lettered in gilt. Copy of epilogue first published by Edward Arnold laid in. Housed in a beautiful quarter leather solander box for protection. Condition: a near fine copy with the spine gently faded as common. Faint browning to pages commensurate with age. Very good. Currey, 419. Hammond B4. Wells 11. Provenance: From the Larry McMurtry Collection of H. G. Wells, with McMurtry s bookplate. The Pulitzer Prize winning author was a bibliophile and actually owned a bookshop. A nice association between the best writer of British science fiction and the best American Western writer. First and Fine. Signed by Author(s).

First edition of the author's landmark first novel, which went on to win the National Book Award. Octavo, original black and tan cloth. Boldly signed by Ralph Ellison on the title page. Fine in an near fine price-clipped dust jacket with a touch of rubbing. Jacket design by E. McKnight Kauffer. Housed in a custom half morocco clamshell box. An exceptional example. Ralph Ellison s first novel is "one of the most important works of the 20th century" (New York Times). It went on to win the National Book Award in 1953. It was named by Modern Library as one of the 100 greatest novels of the twentieth century and to TIME Magazine's 100 Best English-language Novels from 1923 to 2005, calling it "the quintessential American picaresque of the 20th century." According to The New York Times, President Barack Obama modeled his memoir Dreams from My Father on Ellison's novel.

Hardcover. Condition: Fine. Dust Jacket Condition: Fine. 1st Edition. First Edition, First Printing SIGNED by Ralph Ellison. A beautiful copy. This ORIGINAL sophisticated dustjacket is rich in color with NO chips or tears. The book is in great shape. The binding is tight with NO cocking or leaning and the boards are crisp with slight wear to the edges. A wonderful copy SIGNED by the author housed in a custom clamshell slipcase for preservation. We buy SIGNED Ralph Ellison First Editions. Signed by Author(s).

Cloth. Condition: Near Fine. Dust Jacket Condition: Very Good in Archival Plastic. First Edition, First Printing. A wonderful First Edition, First Printing (so stated) of Ralph Ellison's classic work, signed and dated by the author on the title page, "Ralph Ellison, April 4, 1986." In beige and black cloth with white titling, the book is in near fine condition with a slight lift to the beige cloth on the spine and slight loss of lettering, light spotting on the black topstain and age toning to the pages. But still a solid near fine first with "A.B." on the bottom of the copyright page as required. The very good dustjacket is complete with the original price ($3.50) and the colorful panels as well as the cream panels are bright. There is wear and splitting at the folds and minor loss at the spine ends. Also there is a quarter-size abrasion on the back panel and other minor wear on the dustjacket designed by E. McKnight Kauffer, but still very good. This important book is housed in a beautiful custom clamshell box. In black cloth with tan inserts and glossy cover inset and spine label designed to match the cover of the book. Overall an important edition of a most important book in a beautiful setting.

First Edition. "ELLISON, Ralph. Invisible Man. New York: Random House, (1952). Octavo, original black and tan cloth, original dust jacket. Housed in a custom chemise and clamshell box. $6000.First edition, third printing of Ralph Ellison s great American novel, inscribed by Ellison on the half title: "For Richard Swanston, whose grandfather Thomas Talley is responsible for some of the insights that appear herein. Sincerely, Ralph Ellison."It is a resolutely honest, tormented, profoundly American book" (Wright Morris, New York Times, 1952). Winner of the 1952 National Book Award, Ellison's matchless first novel is "one of the most important works of the 20th century" (New York Times). This is a work in which Ellison's "visionary genius achieved a perfection" (Harold Bloom, Genius) and the only novel published in his lifetime Invisible Man is a "magnificent classic [which] soon became a vital and permanent contribution to American literature" (Blockson 86). Dust jacket supplied from another copy. The recipient of this copy, Richard Swanston, was the grandson of noted Black scholar Thomas W. Talley. Talley taught chemistry and biology at Fisk University for almost 40 years Talley-Brady Hall at Fisk is in part named after him but is perhaps best remembered today for his seminal 1922 book Negro Folk Rhymes (Wise and Otherwise), one of the first works collecting and analyzing the sacred and secular vernacular music of rural Black southerners and the first of its kind by any Black academic. With Swanston's owner signature.Book with soiling to covers; chipped dust jacket supplied from another copy. A desirable signed copy with an intriuging provenance.". Signed.

Hardcover. Condition: Fine. 1st Edition. First Edition, First Printing SIGNED by H.G. Wells on a laid in signature. A wonderful copy. The book is in great shape. The binding is tight, with minor wear to the panels. The pages are clean with no writing, marks or bookplates in the book. A wonderful copy of this TRUE FIRST EDITION SIGNED by the author. We buy H.G. Wells First Editions. Signed by Author(s).

Hardcover. Condition: Very Good. FIRST. Numbered 115 of 620, London: T. Fisher Unwin, 1924 - 27; Volume 1 signed by the author; three-quarter red leather binding with red cloth sides [27 volumes] Note: missing Volume 23. 9 1/4 x 6 1/2 inches SIGNED on the limitation page by the author. 28 volumes, large octavo. Portrait frontispiece, title printed in red and black. Finely bound in dark green half oasis morocco with gilt titles and decoration to spines; maroon leather and cloth top edges gilt, others untrimmed. Internally clean, binding is unmarked. The definitive set of Wells volume 23 is standard bound. Signed by Author(s).

Hardcover. Condition: Near Fine. 1st Edition. First Edition, First Printing with the 1897 date printed on the title page. A beautiful copy. The binding is tight with NO cocking or leaning and the boards are crisp with minor wear to the spine. The pages are clean with light wear to the edges. There is NO writing, marks or bookplates in the book. A wonderful copy in collector's condition. We buy Wells First Editions.

First edition, first issue, with the title page printed in orange and black and pages 247 and 248 being publisher's ads. Octavo, original cloth. In near fine condition. Housed in a custom half morocco clamshell box. An exceptional example. Originally serialized in Pearson's Weekly in 1897, The Invisible Man was published as a novel the same year. The Invisible Man of the title is Griffin, a scientist who has devoted himself to research into optics and invents a way to change a body's refractive index to that of air so that it neither absorbs nor reflects light and thus becomes invisible. He successfully carries out this procedure on himself, but fails in his attempt to reverse it. Readers found The Invisible Manâ "unlike its immediate predecessor, The Island of Dr. Moreau (1896)â "accessible and gripping. Joseph Conrad, in a December 1898 letter to Wells, praised the book: â Franklyâ "it is uncommonly fine. One can always see a lot in your workâ "there is always a â beyondâ to your booksâ "but into thisâ ¦ youâ ve managed to put an amazing quantity of effects.â The Invisible Man remains not only an inescapable influence on modern science fiction but also a â classic study of scientific hubris brought to destructionâ (Clute & Nicholls, 1313).

HARDCOVER. Condition: NEAR FINE IN A VERY GOOD+ D.J. FIRST EDITION. FIRST WINNER OF THE NATIONAL BOOK AWARD / A TWENTIETH CENTURY HIGHSPOT AND A CLASSIC OF AMERICAN LITERATURE OTHER THAN MODEST PERISHING OF THE SPINE TITLES THE BOOK IS FINE WITHOUT ANY MARKS TO THE BINDING OR THE TEXT. D.J. IS VERY NICE WITH A TRACE OF CORNER AND SPINE-END WEAR, SHALLOW CHIPPING TO THE TOP FORE-EDGE CORNERS, A TRACE OF RUB TO A COUPLE OF SHORT EDGE TEARS, AND IS NOT PRICE-CLIPPED. A BEAUTIFUL CLEAN, BRIGHT, UNFADED COPY.

Hardcover. Condition: Near Fine. Dust Jacket Condition: Near Fine. First edition. A bit of the usual light rubbing on the white spine lettering, one corner a tiny bit bumped else near fine in near fine dust jacket with small tears and tiny nicks at the spine ends, and much less than the usual rubbing to the predominantly black panels. Winner of the National Book Award, and also a *Burgess 99* title. A nice copy of this classic novel.

Hardcover. Condition: Fine. Dust Jacket Condition: Near Fine. 1st Edition. First Edition, First Printing with the words "First Printing" printed on the copyright page. This copy is SIGNED by Ellison on a laid in card. A beautiful dustjacket that is rich in color with light wear to the edges. This original First Printing dustjacket has the printed price present on the front flap. The book is in excellent condition. The binding is tight, and the boards are crisp with minor wear to the edges. The pages are clean with no writing, marks or bookplates in the book. Overall, a lovely copy of this TRUE FIRST EDITION SIGNED by the author in collector's condition. Includes a letter of authenticity for the signature. Signed by Author(s).

First edition, first issue of Wells' popular cautionary tale of overreaching scientific ambition. Octavo, original publisher's gilt and black-stamped pictorial red cloth. First issue with the first page numbered 2, the title page printed in orange and black and publisherâ s ad leaf at rear. In very good condition. Ownership initials "S.P Bell" to the front free endpaper. Housed in a custom full morocco clamshell box. An exceptional presentation. Originally serialized in Pearson's Weekly in 1897, The Invisible Man was published as a novel the same year. The Invisible Man of the title is Griffin, a scientist who has devoted himself to research into optics and invents a way to change a body's refractive index to that of air so that it neither absorbs nor reflects light and thus becomes invisible. He successfully carries out this procedure on himself, but fails in his attempt to reverse it. Readers found The Invisible Manâ "unlike its immediate predecessor, The Island of Dr. Moreau (1896)â "accessible and gripping. Joseph Conrad, in a December 1898 letter to Wells, praised the book: â Franklyâ "it is uncommonly fine. One can always see a lot in your workâ "there is always a â beyondâ to your booksâ "but into thisâ ¦ youâ ve managed to put an amazing quantity of effects.â The Invisible Man remains not only an inescapable influence on modern science fiction but also a â classic study of scientific hubris brought to destructionâ (Clute & Nicholls, 1313).

Hardcover. Condition: Very Good. Dust Jacket Included. 1st Edition. Ralph Ellison, Invisible Man (1952),True First Edition, with first state Dustjacket. SIGNED BY ELLISON on a tipped in page. Condition: book in very good condition minimal wear. Jacket in very good condition with some professional restoration work done. Looks very nice. Signed by Author(s).

Hardcover. Condition: Near Fine. Dust Jacket Condition: Very Good. 1st Edition. Random House. New York. 1952. 439 pages. Stated First Edition; 1st printing. Book is about near fine. Laid in is a rare endorsed check made out to Ralph Ellison; issued by the William Morris Agency. On the check's verso is a hand signed endorsement signed by Ralph Ellison. In addition to his signature are the added words 'For Deposit Only.' Tight, clean and crisp with 4 sharp corners. Binding and hinges are strong; pages lay tight and undisturbed; seemingly unread. Previous owner's name neatly written on ffep with a tiny bookseller code at edge. Light rubbing; with ting closed tear to cloth on backstrip. A beautiful copy in original 1st issue DJ. $3.50 price clipped from DJ flap. DJ shows rubbing along folds and shelf-rub along edges. An incredibly unique first printing with Ralph Ellison's endorsed check laid in. Signed by Author(s).

First edition, first issue of Wellsâ popular cautionary tale of overreaching scientific ambition. Octavo, original publisherâ s gilt and black-stamped pictorial red cloth. First issue with the first page numbered 2, the title page printed in orange and black and publisherâ s ad leaf at rear. In very good condition. Housed in a custom half morocco slipcase. Originally serialized in Pearson's Weekly in 1897, The Invisible Man was published as a novel the same year. The Invisible Man of the title is Griffin, a scientist who has devoted himself to research into optics and invents a way to change a body's refractive index to that of air so that it neither absorbs nor reflects light and thus becomes invisible. He successfully carries out this procedure on himself, but fails in his attempt to reverse it. Readers found The Invisible Manâ "unlike its immediate predecessor, The Island of Dr. Moreau (1896)â "accessible and gripping. Joseph Conrad, in a December 1898 letter to Wells, praised the book: â Franklyâ "it is uncommonly fine. One can always see a lot in your workâ "there is always a â beyondâ to your booksâ "but into thisâ ¦ youâ ve managed to put an amazing quantity of effects.â The Invisible Man remains not only an inescapable influence on modern science fiction but also a â classic study of scientific hubris brought to destructionâ (Clute & Nicholls, 1313).

Octavo, pp. [i-vi] vii-viii [1] 2-245 [246: printer's imprint] [247-248: ads] [note: first leaf is a blank preceding half title leaf], title page printed in orange and black, original pictorial red cloth, front panel stamped in black and gold, spine panel stamped in gold. First edition. "Amoral scientist discovers invisibility, but even this fails in the face of invincible obtuseness and cruelty of petty bourgeois England. Brilliant idea, memorable scenes, and vigorous chase-plot in an ambiguous (and scientifically impossible) tale." - Suvin, Victorian Science Fiction in the UK, p. 70. Anatomy of Wonder (1976) 2-163 and (2004) II-1227. Bleiler, Science-Fiction: The Early Years 2330. Clareson, Science Fiction in America, 1870s-1930s 797. Locke, A Spectrum of Fantasy, p. 226. Survey of Science Fiction Literature III, pp. 1057-61. In 333. Bleiler (1978), p. 205. Reginald 15039. Currey, p. 520. Hammond B4. Wells 11. Wells Society 11. Early owner's signature on front free endpaper. Binding slightly leaned, touch of rubbing to cloth along bottom edges, spine panel lightly sunned, endpapers tanned, a very good or better copy with bright cover stamping and sound inner hinges. A nice looking copy. (#130584).

Octavo, pp. [i-vi] vii-viii [1] 2-245 [246: printer's imprint] [247-248: ads] [note: first leaf is a blank preceding half title leaf], title page printed in orange and black, original pictorial red cloth, front panel stamped in black and gold, spine panel stamped in gold. First edition. "Amoral scientist discovers invisibility, but even this fails in the face of invincible obtuseness and cruelty of petty bourgeois England. Brilliant idea, memorable scenes, and vigorous chase-plot in an ambiguous (and scientifically impossible) tale." - Suvin, Victorian Science Fiction in the UK, p. 70. Anatomy of Wonder (1976) 2-163 and (2004) II-1227. Bleiler, Science-Fiction: The Early Years 2330. Clareson, Science Fiction in America, 1870s-1930s 797. Locke, A Spectrum of Fantasy, p. 226. Survey of Science Fiction Literature III, pp. 1057-61. In 333. Bleiler (1978), p. 205. Reginald 15039. Currey, p. 520. Hammond B4. Wells 11. Wells Society 11. Early owner's signature dated October 1897 on front free endpaper. Binding slightly leaned, spine panel lightly sunned, endpapers tanned, just a touch of rubbing to cloth, a very good plus copy with bright cover stamping and sound inner hinges. (#114669).

Octavo, pp. [i-vi] vii-viii [1] 2-245 [246: printer's imprint] [247-248: ads] [note: first leaf is a blank preceding half title leaf], title page printed in orange and black, original pictorial red cloth, front panel stamped in black and gold, spine panel stamped in gold. First edition. "Amoral scientist discovers invisibility, but even this fails in the face of invincible obtuseness and cruelty of petty bourgeois England. Brilliant idea, memorable scenes, and vigorous chase-plot in an ambiguous (and scientifically impossible) tale." - Suvin, Victorian Science Fiction in the UK, p. 70. Anatomy of Wonder (1976) 2-163 and (2004) II-1227. Bleiler, Science-Fiction: The Early Years 2330. Clareson, Science Fiction in America, 1870s-1930s 797. Locke, A Spectrum of Fantasy, p. 226. Survey of Science Fiction Literature III, pp. 1057-61. In 333. Bleiler (1978), p. 205. Reginald 15039. Currey, p. 520. Hammond B4. Wells 11. Wells Society 11. Spine panel a bit sunned, endpapers a bit darkened, a very good copy with no binding wear, bright cover stamping and tight inner hinges. A nice copy of this book. (#80314).

Hardcover. Condition: Very Good. Dust Jacket Condition: Very Good. 1st Edition. Random House. New York. 1952. 439 pages. Stated First edition; 1st printing. Binding and hinges are strong. Pages lay tight and undisturbed; seemingly unread. Darkened topstain sunned; rubbing to backstrip titles. An original first state DJ with $3.50 price intact on DJ flap. An incredible association copy presented to Paul Kellogg; social reformer and journalist; as well as founding member of the ACLU; American Civil Liberties Union. A former publisher's copy with a publisher's card addressed to Kellogg that reads 'With the Compliments of the author and publisher.' The formerly paper-clipped publisher's card is now loosely laid in; after having removed the paper clip; which left a trace of rust to the publisher's/author's gift card as well as the endpaper where it was attached. First edition, 1st printing association copy belonging to a founding member of the ACLU. An incredibly unique copy.

First edition of the author's landmark first novel, which went on to win the National Book Award. Octavo, original black and tan cloth. Fine in an near fine price-clipped dust jacket with light rubbing. Jacket design by E. McKnight Kauffer. A nice example. Ralph Ellison s first novel is "one of the most important works of the 20th century" (New York Times). It went on to win the National Book Award in 1953. It was named by Modern Library as one of the 100 greatest novels of the twentieth century and to TIME Magazine's 100 Best English-language Novels from 1923 to 2005, calling it "the quintessential American picaresque of the 20th century." According to The New York Times, President Barack Obama modeled his memoir Dreams from My Father on Ellison's novel.

Hardcover. Condition: Near Fine. 1st Edition. First Edition, First Printing, First Issue An excellent example of this title in the original red cloth. First edition, first printing, first issue, with the title page printed in orange and black and pages 247 and 248 being publisher?s ads The book is in excellent condition for this title being firmly bound. The has been professionally recased with renewed end papers, allowing the book to be tight and sound and quite readable without the usual cracked hinges or broken bindings. The original cloth is in beautiful vibrant condition and withOUT the usual common fading of the spine cloth. The book has sharp corners and no edgewear. The book has no bookplates, no owner names and no inscriptions. The internal pages are remarkable clean with no stains, no bent pages and no foxing but have the common overall even light toning. Please see detailed images. No dust jacket as issued. A wonderful example of this title in a sound readable binding! A handsome copy in collectible condition, which displays well on the shelf. ADDITIONAL IMAGES AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST. Please see our ABE store for other landmark SciFi and Horror listings.

7.5 x 5", finely bound in gilt-ruled crushed red morocco with original red cloth front cover and spine bound in at rear, 245pp + one page publisher's ad, covers lightly rubbed, contents toned, minor edge wear, with ink "1st edition" on title page. FIRST EDITION (with a "2" at bottom of page 1). WITH AUTOGRAPH NOTE SIGNED FROM THE AUTHOR, H.G. WELLS, TIPPED IN AT FRONT OF BOOK. Short note on The Reform Club embossed letterhead, nd, "Dear Sirt Hedley / Let me know what use you make of my carefully written and stirring contribution. Yours." SIGNED BY H.G. WELLS.

First Edition. Very nice copy with the white lettering on the spine fresh and intact, in price-clipped dust-wrapper by E. McKnight Kauffer which is a little rubbed at the edges; inscription on front free end-paper The author s important first book and winner of the National Book Award.

Cloth. Condition: Very good. Dust Jacket Condition: very good. First Edition. First edition in slip case. Note signed by Ellison included.

Hardcover. Condition: Very Good. Dust Jacket Condition: Very Good. First Edition. Scarce first edition, first issue of this cornerstone of 20th-century American literature. Very good book in Very good jacket. First issue jacket, with back panel featuring portrait by Gordon Parks. Jacket complete with $3.50 price on flap (jacket has some nicks, tears, creases, and wear to edges; bottom edge of jacket flaps, foot of front pastedown, foot of rear pastedown and endpaper have some dampstaining, with faint unobtrusive traces to cloth at foot as well). One of the central literary documents of the Afro-American experience, Ellison's first book won the National Book Award for 'tracing the life of a young negro trying to find himself as an individual as well as in relation to his race and society' (Oxford Companion to American Literature).

First edition. Octavo, pp. [i-vi] vii-viii [1] 2-245 [246: printer's imprint] [247-248: ads] [note: first leaf is a blank preceding half title leaf], title page printed in orange and black, original pictorial red cloth, front panel stamped in black and gold, spine panel stamped in gold. "Amoral scientist discovers invisibility, but even this fails in the face of invincible obtuseness and cruelty of petty bourgeois England. Brilliant idea, memorable scenes, and vigorous chase-plot in an ambiguous (and scientifically impossible) tale." - Suvin, Victorian Science Fiction in the UK, p. 70. Filmed in 1933 by Universal Pictures starring Claude Rains, directed by James Whale. Anatomy of Wonder (1976) 2-163 and (2004) II-1227. Bleiler, Science-Fiction: The Early Years 2330. Clareson, Science Fiction in America, 1870s-1930s 797. Locke, A Spectrum of Fantasy, p. 226. Survey of Science Fiction Literature III, pp. 1057-61. In 333. Bleiler (1978), p. 205. Reginald 15039. Currey, p. 520. Hammond B4. Wells 11. Wells Society 11. Spine panel tanned, some tanning to end papers and edges of text block, front hinge starting, a very good copy with a bright front panel. (24978).