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Frankenstein, Or, the Modern Prometheus: The 1818 Text in Three Volumes
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Frankenstein, Or, the Modern Prometheus: The 1818 Text in Three Volumes Hardcover - 1984

by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley; Barry Moser (Photographer)


About this book

Frankenstein; or, the Modern Prometheus is a Gothic novel written by Mary Shelley in 1818. The story revolves around Victor Frankenstein, a scientist who creates a monstrous creature and immediately regrets his actions, abandoning the creature to its own devices. The creature, seeking acceptance and revenge, terrorizes Victor and those he loves. Themes of ambition, ethics, humanity, and loneliness are explored through Shelley's vivid descriptions of the natural world and her characters' psychological torment. Frankenstein remains a classic of Gothic literature and a seminal work of science fiction.

Mary Wollstonecraft Godwin wrote the first draft of her groundbreaking novel in 1816, while on a trip to Lake Geneva with her soon-to-be husband, poet Percy Bysshe Shelley, and poet Lord Byron. They were stuck indoors during famously known as the Year Without a Summer.




First Edition Identification

A small London publishing house, Lackington, Hughes, Harding, Mavor & Jones, first printed Frankenstein: or, the Modern Prometheus in a limited series of just 500 copies on January 1, 1818. By then, Mary was just 20 years old. The first edition was published anonymously in 1818, with a preface by Percy B. Shelley and a dedication to Mary’s father, philosopher William Godwin. Mary Shelley didn’t publicly claim her novel until years later, and her name appears in the second edition, published in 1823. First edition original pasteboards were in blueish gray.

First editions are very scarce and exceptionally rare on the market. In 2021 one of the first 500 copies of the novel was sold at auction for $1.17 million. It was the first Frankenstein first edition copy to be auctioned since 1985.


Details

  • Title Frankenstein, Or, the Modern Prometheus: The 1818 Text in Three Volumes
  • Author Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley; Barry Moser (Photographer)
  • Binding Hardcover
  • Edition 1st Edition
  • Pages 254
  • Volumes 1
  • Language ENG
  • Publisher University of California Press, Berkeley
  • Date 1984
  • ISBN 9780520052819 / 0520052811
  • Weight 2.99 lbs (1.36 kg)
  • Reading level 1000
  • Library of Congress subjects Horror tales, Frankenstein (Fictitious character) - Fiction
  • Library of Congress Catalog Number 84000229
  • Dewey Decimal Code 823.7
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Frankenstein; Or, The Modern Prometheus
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Frankenstein; Or, The Modern Prometheus

by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley

  • Used
  • very good
  • Hardcover
Condition
Used - Very Good
Binding
Hardcover
ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
9780520052819 / 0520052811
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1
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Lithia , Florida, United States
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University of California Press, 1984. hardcover. Very Good. 12x8x1. Hardback--excellent condition
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Frankenstein; Or, The Modern Prometheus (The Pennyroyal Edition)
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Frankenstein; Or, The Modern Prometheus (The Pennyroyal Edition)

by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley; Barry Moser (Designer & Illustrator); Joyce Carol Oates (Afterword)

  • Used
  • good
  • Hardcover
Condition
Used - Good
Binding
Hardcover
ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
9780520052819 / 0520052811
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1
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HOUSTON, Texas, United States
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Univ of California Pr, 1984-10. Hardcover. Good.
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Frankenstein; Mary Shelley ; illustrated by Barry Moser
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Frankenstein; Mary Shelley ; illustrated by Barry Moser

by Shelley, Mary Wollstonecraft. Moser, Barry (illus.)

  • Used
  • Hardcover
  • first
Condition
Used - Damp-rippled to rear jacket panel; minor foxing to fore-edge; overall about very good in same jacket. See photos. NB: Moisture t
Edition
First printing (stated)
Binding
Hardcover
ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
9780520052819 / 0520052811
Quantity Available
1
Seller
Oakland, California, United States
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This seller has earned a 5 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
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Description:
Berkeley: University of California Press, 1984. First printing (stated). Hardcover. Damp-rippled to rear jacket panel; minor foxing to fore-edge; overall about very good in same jacket. See photos. NB: Moisture traces to front jacket as seen in photo are due to cleaning that dried shortly after photo was taken.. Folio in glossy black illus jacket and black cloth; xiii, 223 p. : ill. ; 24 cm ; bibliographical references (p. [215]-216) and index. Striking black and white illustrations by Barry Moser. The Pennyroyal Edition. "The text of this edition is that of the 1818 edition"--T.p. verso. / Frankenstein's Monster (Fictitious character) -- Fiction. Scientists -- Fiction. Horror tales, English. Fine editoins.
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Frankenstein; Or, The Modern Prometheus
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Frankenstein; Or, The Modern Prometheus

by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley; Barry Moser [Illustrator]; Joyce Carol Oates [Afterword];

  • New
  • Hardcover
Condition
New
Binding
Hardcover
ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
9780520052819 / 0520052811
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1
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San Diego, California, United States
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University of California Press, 1984-10-01. Hardcover. New. New. In shrink wrap. Looks like an interesting title!
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Frankenstein; Or, The Modern Prometheus
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Frankenstein; Or, The Modern Prometheus

by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley

  • Used
  • first
Condition
Used - Collectible - Very Good
ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
9780520052819 / 0520052811
Quantity Available
1
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Frederick, Maryland, United States
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University of California Press. Collectible - Very Good. Collectible - Very Good. Like New dust jacket. 1st thus. In protective mylar cover. (Horror, Classic Fiction) NOT AVAILABLE FOR SHIPMENT OUTSIDE OF THE UNITED STATES.
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Frankenstein: Or the Modern Prometheus
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Frankenstein: Or the Modern Prometheus

by Shelley, Mary Wollstonecraft; Moser, Barry

  • Used
  • Fine
  • Hardcover
  • first
Condition
Used - Fine
Edition
1st Printing
Binding
Hardcover
ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
9780520052819 / 0520052811
Quantity Available
1
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SPRINGFIELD, Virginia, United States
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Berkeley, CA: Univ of California Pr, 1984. The text of the 1 v. Pennyroyal Frankenstein is based on the 3 v. ed. originally published: London : Printed for Lackington. Hughes. Mavor & Jones. 1818. 254pp/illus. with 52 illustrations and plates by Barry Moser. DJ has small tearon back. Text clean.. 1st Printing. Cloth. Fine/Very Good (+). Folio - over 12" - 15" tall.
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FRANKENSTEIN; OR, THE MODERN PROMETHEUS [Signed]
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FRANKENSTEIN; OR, THE MODERN PROMETHEUS [Signed]

by Shelley, Mary Wollstonecraft; Moser, Barry [illustrator]; Oates, Joyce Carol [afterwords]

  • Used
  • Hardcover
  • Signed
Condition
Used
Edition
Pennyroyal Edition
Binding
Hardcover
ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
9780520052819 / 0520052811
Quantity Available
1
Seller
Rockville, Maryland, United States
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This seller has earned a 4 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
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$100.00
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Description:
Berkeley: University of California Press, 1984. Pennyroyal Edition. Hardcover. Quarto, xiv, 254 pages. In Very Good condition with a Very Good dust jacket. Spine black and gray with red and white lettering. Dust jacket protected in mylar covering, with price uncut: "$29.50." Minor shelf wear. Creasing along edges of dust jacket, with rubbing to rear cover. Small closed tear to top right hand corner of front cover. Interior pages clean. Signed flat by Moser on title page. Shelved on Front Table. 1374010. Shelved Dupont Bookstore.
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Frankenstein - Or, the Modern Prometheus. First Printing.
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Frankenstein - Or, the Modern Prometheus. First Printing.

by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley

  • Used
  • Fine
  • Hardcover
  • first
Condition
Used - Fine
Edition
1st Edition
Binding
Hardcover
ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
9780520052819 / 0520052811
Quantity Available
1
Seller
Baldwinsville, New York, United States
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$135.00
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Description:
Berkeley, CA: The Pennyroyal Press, 1984. 1st Edition . Hardcover. Fine/Fine. Folio - over 12 - 15" tall. Barry Moser. First Printing; Fine Book in FineJacket. Berkeley: The Pennyroyal Press, 1984. Frankenstein - Or, the Modern Prometheus. First Printing. By Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley; Pennyroyal Edition designed and illustrated by Barry Moser. Folio; 12 1/2" tall. Illustrated jacket, black cloth boards with metallic red imprint on cover and spine, design endpapers by Moser, xiv + 254 + 1 pp. Illustrations on the book, jacket and throughout the interior by Moser. Fine Book in Fine jacket, sparkling and undamaged. Publisher's transparent acetate jacket is complete and undamaged as well, with very faint rubbing. See all scans. A very collectible form of Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley's classic of horror. Ships in the stoutets of protection, of course. LBC
Item Price
$135.00
$6.75 shipping to USA