The Monikins
Philadelphia: Carey, Lea & Blanchard, 1835. First U.S. Edition. Two Volumes. Original drab boards with formerly purple-red muslin backing, printed paper labels affixed to spine panels, all edges untrimmed. A very early science fiction book! The Monikins are a society of monkeys inhabiting the south polar regions. "Political and economic satire in the guise of an imaginary voyage, with a fair amount of science-fictional material." - Bleiler, Science-Fiction: The Early Years 481. Barron (ed), Fantasy Literature 2-30. Bleiler, Science Fiction: The Early Years 481. Joel Nydahl, "Early Fictional Futures: Utopia, 1798-1864," Kenneth M. Roemer (ed.), America as Utopia (1981), p. 291. Sargent, British and American Utopian Literature, 1516-1985, p. 43. Bleiler (1978), p. 48. Reginald 03389. BAL 3868. Wright (I) 647. Spiller & Blackburn 19.
Muslin backing is faded to tan, with only a hint of the original color remaining. Paper labels are rubbed and have some missing lettering. Covers are heavily soiled with a red stain on the back cover of Volume 2. Heavy bumping to corners, rubbing to all edges. Some foxing to endpapers and text block. Some dampstaining particularly the preliminaries of volume 2. Former owners name (Edward H. Reede) in the preliminaries of both volumes.
That said, the set includes 8 pages of publisher's adverts in the front of volume 1, 12 pages at the end of volume 1, and 8 pages at the end of volume 2. It appears complete in two volumes with 251 pp. in volume one (not counting adverts) and 244 pp. in volume 2. To have survived almost 200 years in original condition is truly remarkable. Item #1245
Price: $1,000.00