Soldier Tales | Rudyard Kipling | First Edition | Macmillan 1896 | Illustrated Victorian Military Stories

A desirable first edition of Rudyard Kipling's Soldier Tales, published by Macmillan & Co., London, in 1896. This attractive Victorian edition gathers together several of Kipling's celebrated military stories inspired by British Army life in India, including With the Main Guard, The Drums of the Fore and Aft, The Man Who Was, The Courting of Dinah Shadd, The Incarnation of Krishna Mulvaney, The Taking of Lungtungpen, and The Madness of Private Ortheris. The volume is illustrated throughout with striking full-page black-and-white plates by leading late-Victorian artists, capturing the drama and atmosphere of imperial military life. The decorative blue publisher's cloth, stamped in gilt with drummer and bugler to the upper board, remains one of the most attractive Macmillan bindings of the period. An increasingly collectable Kipling first edition in its original publisher's binding. Condition; Very good. Original blue cloth remains bright with light rubbing to corners, spine ends and extremities. Small marks and handling wear to the boards consistent with age. Binding remains firm and square. Internally clean with light age toning throughout. Occasional scattered foxing, primarily affecting several illustrated plates and a few margins. Previous owner's pencil inscription reading "First Edition" appears on the half-title. No loose pages or repairs noted. A well-preserved example of this Victorian first edition.