Kim

by Kipling, Rudyard

Rudyard Kipling’s Kim tells the story of Kimball “Kim” O'Hara, an imperial orphan scavenging a hand-to-mouth existence in British India during the late 1890s. The novel functions as a fictionalization of Kipling’s own Indian childhood, but it is also a strong example of the adventure stories that became especially popular in the heyday of the British Empire. Kim has been noted for its detailed portrait of the people, culture, and varied religions of India.

 Kim was serialized in McClure's Magazine from December 1900 to October 1901 as well as in Cassell's Magazine from January to November 1901. It is ranked 34th on The Guardian’s list of the 100 best novels and 78th on Modern Library’s “100 Best” English-language novels of the 20th century. In 2003, the book was listed on the BBC's The Big Read poll of the UK's "best-loved novel.”

First Edition Identification

Doubleday, Page & Company of New York and Macmillan of London both published Rudyard Kipling’s Kim in October 1901, but the US edition was copyrighted two weeks earlier than the UK edition. Doubleday, Page & Company’s 460-page edition is bound in green ribbed cloth and has 10 illustrations. This first edition has sold for up to $500. Macmillan’s edition is bound in red cloth and has illustrations by HR Millar. Interestingly, this edition has sold for upwards of $25,000 (more than 50-times the value Doubleday, Page & Company’s).

Other Collectible or Notable Editions

In 2002, W. W. Norton & Company published a noted critical edition of Kim, which includes extensive notes, essays, maps and references.

Reviews

Review this book!

Available Copies

Kim
More Photos

Kim

by Kipling, Rudyard

Condition
Used - Very Good
Edition
Illustrated
Published
c.1930
Quantity Available
1
Seller
Athens, GRC
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 5 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
A$176.49

Show Details

Description:
Traduction de Louis Fabulet & Ch. Fountaine-Walker. Illustrations de Ch. Fouqueray. Troisième édition. 279 pp. 28x23 pp. Librairie Delagrave, Paris, s.d. (c.1930) --- Half-leather and marbled boards. Gilt lettering and decoration on spine. Wear to the edges and corners of the covers (see photo). Marbled endpapers. Top edges gilt. A dedication written on first blank page. All other pages are… Read more about this item
Item Price
A$176.49
KIM.
More Photos

KIM.

by KIPLING. RUDYARD

Condition
Used
Edition
First edition.
Published
1901
Quantity Available
1
Seller
London, Greater London, GBR
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 5 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
A$1,077.94

Show Details

Description:
Macmillan and co. Ltd. London. 1901. FIRST EDITION. 8vo. (8.1 x 5.3 inches). Finely illustrated with ten mono plates by J. Lockwood Kipling. A very small amout of spoting to the fore edge but overall a clean and bright copy. Finely bound in recent full deep red morocco, spine with raised bands, gilt. Single gilt ruled border on boards.… Read more about this item
Item Price
A$1,077.94
Kim
More Photos

Kim

by Kipling, Rudyard

Condition
Used - Very Good
Edition
First Edition
Published
1901
Binding
Publisher's Cloth
Quantity Available
1
Seller
London, Greater London, GBR
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 5 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
A$391.98

Show Details

Description:
London: MacMillan and Co. Limited 1901. 8vo. First Edition. [vi.], 413, [2] pp. Original red cloth with gilt lettering to spine and elephant medallion on the front board, top edge gilt. Illustrated by black and white photographic plates. Spine ends and corners worn, and boards a little marked. Fading owner's name on half title, dated 1901. Endpapers foxed, and some… Read more about this item
Item Price
A$391.98
Kim

Kim

by Kipling, Rudyard

Condition
Used - Near Fine
Edition
First American edition
Published
1901
Binding
Hardcover
Quantity Available
1
Seller
Madison, Wisconsin, USA
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 5 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
A$512.85

Show Details

Description:
New York: Doubleday, Page & Company, 1901. First American edition. Hardcover. Near Fine. 8vo. [6], 460, [4] pp. Green cloth stamped in black and lettered in gold on the front board and spine; top edge gilt. Illustrated by a frontispiece and nine additional plates. A contemporary owner's name on the free front endpaper. Livingston 248. A nice example… Read more about this item
Item Price
A$512.85
Kim
More Photos

Kim

by Rudyard Kipling

Condition
Used - Near Fine
Jacket Condition
Fair
Edition
First edition
Published
1901
Binding
Cloth
Quantity Available
1
Seller
BATH, Somerset, GBR
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 5 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
A$1,665.92

Show Details

Description:
London: Macmillan And Co., 1901. First edition. Cloth. Near Fine/Fair. 8" by 5.5". Not Stated. A first edition of Kipling's classic novel. Most renowned for 'The Jungle Book', 'Kim' and 'Just so Stories', Rudyard Kipling (1865-1936) is seen as a pioneer for the short story form and a classic author of children's fiction. He was born in India,… Read more about this item
Item Price
A$1,665.92
Kim.

Kim.

by Kipling, Rudyard

Condition
Used
Published
1901
Quantity Available
1
Seller
Palm Beach, Florida, USA
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 5 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
A$777.05

Show Details

Description:
New York: Doubleday, Page & Company, 1901. Kim unfolds against the backdrop of The Great Game, the political conflict between Russia and Britain in Central Asia. The novel made the term "Great Game" popular and introduced the theme of great power rivalry and intrigue. It is set after the Second Afghan War which ended in 1881, but before the… Read more about this item
Item Price
A$777.05
KIM
More Photos

KIM

by Kipling, Rudyard

Condition
Used - Very Good
Jacket Condition
Good
Edition
1st edition.
Published
1901
Binding
Hardback
Quantity Available
1
Seller
Monmouthshire, Aberdeen, GBR
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 5 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
A$11,414.46

Show Details

Description:
Published by Macmillan & Co. Ltd., 1901. 1st edition.. Hardback. Very Good/Good. Very good condition in an almost very good dustwrapper. Red cloth covers. Gilt title to spine and gilt elephant head vignette to front cover. 413 pages, top edge gilt. B/w photo plates. 8 x 5.25 inches. Spine and corners bumped. A couple of very small marks… Read more about this item
Item Price
A$11,414.46
KIM
More Photos

KIM

by Kipling, Rudyard

Condition
Used
Published
1901
Quantity Available
1
Seller
Yarmouth, Maine, USA
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 5 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
A$5,439.35

Show Details

Description:
1901. [in 1901 dust jacket] London: Macmillan and Co., 1901. 2 pp undated ads. Original red cloth with Ganesha device in gilt, with dust jacket. First English Edition of the book that "is acknowledged as Kipling's masterpiece in fiction... The novel is the finest written about the India of the British Empire" [CGEL]. It follows the adventures of… Read more about this item
Item Price
A$5,439.35
Kim (Signed by Robin Jacques)
More Photos

Kim (Signed by Robin Jacques)

by Rudyard Kipling

Condition
Used - Near Fine
Edition
Limited Edition; First Printing
Published
1962
Binding
Hardcover
Quantity Available
1
Seller
Cape Town, ZAF
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 4 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
A$116.56

Show Details

Description:
New York: The Limited Editions Club. Near Fine. 1962. Limited Edition; First Printing. Hardcover. #1429 of 1500 copies. Signed and illustrated by Robin Jacques with black and white drawings and hand-colored by Walter Fischer. NF book, small smudge on the bottom edge, but no other defects. Internally clean, but missing the original slipcase. Book design by Ruari… Read more about this item
Item Price
A$116.56
Kim

Kim

by Kipling, Rudyard

Condition
Used - Fine with No dust jacket as issued
Edition
Limited Edition. First Printing
Published
1962
Binding
Hard Cover
Quantity Available
1
Seller
Palatine, Illinois, USA
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 4 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
A$202.03

Show Details

Description:
NY: The Limited Editions Club. Fine with No dust jacket as issued. 1962. Limited Edition. First Printing. Hard Cover. Limited edition (No. 85 of 1500 copies). Signed by the illustrator on the Limitation Page. Quarter bound in publisher's brown leather over gilt embossed khaki boards, gilt lettering and decoration on spine, gilt mystic maze decoration… Read more about this item
Item Price
A$202.03
Kim.

Kim.

by Kipling, Rudyard

Condition
Used
Published
1901
Quantity Available
1
Seller
Palm Beach, Florida, USA
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 5 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
A$699.34

Show Details

Description:
New York: Doubleday, Page & Company, 1901. First edition with the chapter-heading rhymes for only chapters VII and VIII as called of what many consider Kipling's masterpiece. Octavo, original cloth, embossed black and gilt to the front panel, gilt titles to the spine, illustrated. In near fine condition with light rubbing to the extremities. An exceptional example. Kim unfolds… Read more about this item
Item Price
A$699.34
Kim.

Kim.

by Kipling, Rudyard

Condition
Used
Published
1901
Quantity Available
1
Seller
Palm Beach, Florida, USA
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 5 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
A$3,108.20

Show Details

Description:
London: Macmillan and Co., Limited, 1901. Kim unfolds against the backdrop of The Great Game, the political conflict between Russia and Britain in Central Asia. The novel made the term "Great Game" popular and introduced the theme of great power rivalry and intrigue. It is set after the Second Afghan War which ended in 1881, but before the Third,… Read more about this item
Item Price
A$3,108.20
Kim

Kim

by Rudyard Kipling

Condition
Used - Good+
Edition
The Dominions Edition
Published
1917
Quantity Available
1
Seller
FLAGSTAFF HILL, South Australia, AUS
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 5 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
A$18.00

Show Details

Description:
Kim is a half caste white boy in the Punjab whose Indian mother dies when he is very young and then his father, a former soldier of an Irish Regiment, dies from taking opium, Kim has to fend for himself and avoid being caught by missionaries and charitable societies. 413 pages with 10 illustrations. Book in good+ condition and would… Read more about this item
Item Price
A$18.00
Kim

Kim

by Kipling, Rudyard

Condition
Used - Very good
Edition
Hardcover Quarto in slipcase
Published
1962
Binding
Hardcover
Quantity Available
1
Seller
Paris, FRA
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 5 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
A$252.14

Show Details

Description:
New York: Limited Editions Club, 1962. Hardcover Quarto in slipcase. Hardcover. Very good. Jacques, Robin. orange slipcase, red leather to spine, green cloth to cover, gilt design to cover and lettering to spine, 283 pp, 169/1500, signed by illustrator on back end paper Standard shipping (no tracking) / Priority (with tracking) / Custom quote for large or… Read more about this item
Item Price
A$252.14
Kim
More Photos

Kim

by KIPLING, Rudyard

Condition
Used - fine
Edition
First
Published
1901
Binding
Hardcover
Quantity Available
1
Seller
New York, New York, USA
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 5 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
A$2,719.68

Show Details

Description:
London: Macmillan, 1901. First. hardcover. fine. Illustrated. 8vo, beautifully bound in dark red crushed morocco, with dentelles, raised bands & elephant head designs; all edges gilt, by Bayntun-Riviere. London: Macmillan, 1901. First Edition.<br/><br/>
Item Price
A$2,719.68
KIM. (Pocket edition).
More Photos

KIM. (Pocket edition).

by KIPLING, RUDYARD:

Condition
Used
Quantity Available
1
Seller
Dorchester, Dorset, GBR
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 5 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
A$15.68

Show Details

Description:
Macmillan and Co. 1930. Sm. 8vo. Bound in original bright blue cloth with elaborate gold decor. on spine (medallion with head of elephant in gold on fr. cover). In very good near fine condition. Gilt & cloth nice & bright. Endpapers have a coupe of faint light brown marks in corners, with small name inscription on front endpaper. Otherwise… Read more about this item
Item Price
A$15.68
Kim
More Photos

Kim

by Rudyard Kipling

Condition
Used - Acceptable
Edition
First Edition, First Printing
Published
1901
Binding
Green clothbound hardcover with gilt lettering on spine & title board
Quantity Available
1
Seller
Davis, California, USA
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 3 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
A$108.79

Show Details

Description:
No Dust Jacket Book: Heavy wear on front board/spine (photo). The spine was compromised, then repaired by a professional mender. The book is now sturdy enough for the owner to use with confidence. Moderate uniform toning on pages and edges, consistent with a book of this vintage. The pages are deckled (photo). All pages and illustrations are present with no marks… Read more about this item
Item Price
A$108.79
Kim
More Photos

Kim

by KIPLING, Rudyard.

Condition
Used - Fine
Edition
1st Edition
Published
1901
Binding
Hardcover
Quantity Available
1
Seller
London, Greater London, GBR
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 5 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
A$1,763.91

Show Details

Description:
London: Macmillan & CO, Limited, 1901. Book. Fine. Hardcover. 1st Edition. Octavo. 20th-century red calf by Bayntun, Bath, five raised bands to spine, titles to blue and green spine labels, gilt tooling in compartments, covers bordered with a double gilt fillet, elaborate decoration to board edges and turn-ins, marbled endpapers, edges gilt. Frontispiece and nine more illustrations in b/w printed… Read more about this item
Item Price
A$1,763.91
KIM
More Photos

KIM

by RUDYARD KIPLING

Condition
Used - Fine
Jacket Condition
Near Fine
Edition
Library Edition (not ex-Library)
Published
1951
Binding
Perfect
Quantity Available
1
Seller
West Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 5 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
A$34.28

Show Details

Description:
This is a very nice copy of Kim, the classic tale by Rudyard Kipling, first published in 1901. It is set in the imperialistic world; a masculine world dominated by travel, trade and adventure, and strict divisions between white and non-white. It is about the relationship between Kim, a white man born in India, and an old ascetic priest, a… Read more about this item
Item Price
A$34.28
Kim.

Kim.

by Kipling, Rudyard

Condition
Used
Published
1901
Quantity Available
1
Seller
Palm Beach, Florida, USA
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 5 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
A$1,515.25

Show Details

Description:
London: Macmillan and Co., Limited, 1901. Kim unfolds against the backdrop of The Great Game, the political conflict between Russia and Britain in Central Asia. The novel made the term "Great Game" popular and introduced the theme of great power rivalry and intrigue. It is set after the Second Afghan War which ended in 1881, but before the Third,… Read more about this item
Item Price
A$1,515.25