Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Seas; Or, The Marvellous and Exciting Adventures of Pierre Aronnan, Conseil His Servant, and Ned Land, A Canadian Harpooner

Boston: Geo. M. Smith & Co., 1873. First American edition, second issue, lacking "The End" on p. 303. "Edition of James B. Osgood & Co." on title. . Hardcover. Good. Title page states "Sold only by subscription". xiii, [6], 4-303 p., interspersed with plates. 21 cm. Frontispiece, small title vignette, 108 other full-page plates, 2 smaller illustrations at tops of first pages of both sections. Publisher's green cloth with black and gold impressing. Front cover shows Captain Nemo holding a sextant. All edges gilt. Brown endpapers. Mylar wrap, removed for photos. Some rubbing to rear cover. Shelf wear to edges. Chip to cloth near front pastedown. Small scuffs on rear pastedown and rear free endpaper slightly chipped on bottom corner. Some thumbing and stains to margins throughout.

Classic early sci-fi novel following the adventures of three men as they track down a mysterious sea monster. During their pursuit they are captured by the enigmatic Captain Nemo and taken aboard his submarine, the Nautilus. Together they explore the ocean depths, encountering sea creatures and wonders, grapling with ethics, morality and the limits of human knowledge. A masterpiece of imagination with vivid descriptions of underwater scenery and scientific insights into the ocean world.

A copy of the 1873 Boston Smith edition had the words "The End" printed after the last word of text on p. 303. The type is damaged and it's surmised that the type was not used in the printing of most copies. Copies with that notation would be among the earliest produced of this edition, making this a probable second issue. Myers 56. Taves & MichalukV006.