Notice of a New Form of Intermittent Light for Lighthouses . From the Transactions of the Royal Scottish Society of Arts, Vol. VIII, 1870-71

Stevenson, Robert Louis

Published by Printed by Neill and Company, Edinburgh, 1871

About this Item

First edition, one of about 50 copies. With five figures in text. 7, [1, blank] pp. 1 vols. 8vo. One of the earliest publications of Robert Louis Stevenson (1850-94), who grew up in a family of lighthouse engineers. Beginning in 1867, Stevenson studied civil engineering at the University of Edinburgh and spent three summers in an apprenticeship at his father's lighthouse projects. In the spring of 1871, Stevenson presented his paper and was awarded the silver medal of the Royal Scottish Society of Arts. "The essay showed the accumulated knowledge of three obedient years" (Bathurst) but it marked an end to his engineering studies. Stevenson then studied law and passed the first examination for the Scottish bar in 1872. He cared for nothing but literature, and dedicated himself to his literary apprenticeship with far more zeal than he found for engineering. Inscribed at the head of the title "With the author's compliments" Prideaux notes, "A few copies - probably not exceeding 50 - were pulled separately from the types of the Transactions, with the pagination altered and a title-page added". This would have been at Stevenson's request. Preceded only by juvenilia, The Pentland Rising (1866) and The Charity Bazaar (1868). OCLC records a dozen locations for this title, with only a handful of presentation copies among them. Prideaux II, 3; McKay, Beinecke 8 Self-wrappers, near fine. Blue cloth slipcase with chemise With five figures in text. 7, [1, blank] pp. 1 vols. 8vo.

Seller Inventory # 319958

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Notice of a New Form of Intermittent Light for Lighthouses . From the Transactions of the Royal Scottish Society of Arts, Vol. VIII, 1870-71
• Publisher: Printed by Neill and Company, Edinburgh
• Publication Date: 1871
• Edition: First edition, one of about 50 copies.
• Condition: Near Fine
• Signed: Signed
• Seller catalogs:
  • Literature