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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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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)

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Hardcover
ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
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Univ of California Pr, 1984-10. Hardcover. Good.
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Frankenstein; Or, The Modern Prometheus

Frankenstein; Or, The Modern Prometheus

by Shelley, Mary Wollstonecraft and Barry Moser (Illustrator)

  • Used
  • very good
  • Hardcover
  • first
Condition
Used - Very Good
Edition
First US Edition Thus/First Printing
Binding
Hardcover
ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
9780520052819 / 0520052811
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Albany, California, United States
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Berkeley: University of California Press, 1984. First US Edition Thus/First Printing. Hardcover. Very Good/Good. The Pennyroyal Edition as designed and illustrated by Barry Moser. First Printing stated. In black cloth with red type and red tinted top page ends. Dent to bottom of front board, otherwise sharp corners, clean interior and tight binding. Jacket is price-clipped with scuffing. edgewear/creasing especially to top of front panel and bottom of rear. Some pigment loss to title common to this edition.
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Frankenstein; Or, The Modern Prometheus

Frankenstein; Or, The Modern Prometheus

by Shelley, Mary Wollstonecraft and Barry Moser (Illustrator)

  • Used
  • near fine
  • Hardcover
  • first
Condition
Used - Near Fine
Edition
First US Edition Thus/First Printing
Binding
Hardcover
ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
9780520052819 / 0520052811
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Albany, California, United States
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Berkeley: University of California Press, 1984. First US Edition Thus/First Printing. Hardcover. Near Fine/Very Good. The Pennyroyal Edition as designed and illustrated by Barry Moser. First Printing stated. In black cloth with red type and red tinted top page ends. Sharp corners, clean interior and tight binding, just light bump to top of rear board near spine. Jacket is unclipped with some scuffing and edgewear, nicks to head of spine and adjacent portion of rear panel and 1/4 inch tear to heel of spine. Some loss to pigment of title common to this edition.
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Frankenstein; or, the Modern Prometheus
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Frankenstein; or, the Modern Prometheus

by Shelley, Mary Wollstonecraft ; Barry Moser

  • Used
  • as new
  • Hardcover
  • first
Condition
As New
Edition
First edition thus
Binding
Hardcover
ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
9780520052819 / 0520052811
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Berkeley: University of California, 1984. First edition thus. Hardcover. As New/As new. Pennyroyal Press edition was done in a limited edition in 1983, This edition is a lithographic reproduction illustrated with wood engravings by Barry Moser, with an afterword by Joyce Carol Oates. 9x12" black cloth binding with red lettering, in black dust jacket.
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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
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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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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
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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
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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
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Rockville, Maryland, United States
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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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