The Picture of Dorian Gray **THIS IS THE HOLY GRAIL FOR MODERN LIBRARY COLLECTORS. FIRST EDITION, FIRST PRINTING, FIRST EVER BOOK PUBLISHED BY THE MODERN LIBRARY. AND IT'S IN FINE PRISTINE UNREAD CONDITION!!**

Wilde, Oscar

Published by The Modern Library / Boni & Liveright, New York, 1917

About this Item

THIS IS THE HOLY GRAIL FOR MODERN LIBRARY COLLECTORS. FIRST EDITION, FIRST PRINTING, FIRST EVER BOOK PUBLISHED BY THE MODERN LIBRARY. AND IT'S IN FINE PRISTINE UNREAD CONDITION!!**

The first ever book published by The Modern Library in May of 1917 with all the points indicating a FIRST PRINTING:
* Type 1 spine
* Marbled end papers
* "Just Issued" catalog - Type C1 of the first 12 books in The Modern Library
* Dust jacket also lists only the first 12 books
* Drop-cap "new paragraph" editor's symbol in a reddish-orange
* 60 cent price on dust jacket flap
* Dust jacket is slightly shorter than book

So, let's get to CONDITION which is even more amazing:

Book
* UNREAD AND EVEN APPEARS UNOPENED
* Boards are AS NEW with no flaws
* Spine is AS NEW with no flaws
* Binding is solid and tight
* Gilt on spine and front board is PRISTINE
* Marbled end papers are PRISTINE
* Pages are bright and crisp - PRISTINE

Dust Jacket
* Dark brown dust jacket near flawless with 1.5 cm chip on spine
* Orange banding is incredibly bright and unfaded
* All printing is clear and crisp
* Inside flaps match jacket perfectly with no fading which indicates this book never saw the sunshine!

From Scot Kamin's Modern Library collector's web site: "The original dust jackets on these first catalog issues (as well as second catalog issues, printed in July of 1917) were distinguished by a drop-cap "new paragraph" editor's symbol in a reddish-orange (¶) on the front panel and at the beginning of the back panel text. Additionally, the jackets were about a quarter of an inch too short for the books. Few of these issues have survived with their first-state, first-printing dust jackets intact. They are the rarest of rare ML dust jackets." It's hard enough to find a copy of this first printing in fine condition without the dust jacket. I'm willing to venture that a copy in this condition with the dust jacket may never come on the market again. Now protected in an archival-quality dust jacket protector.

**I WILL BE LISTIING OVER 400 COLLECTIBLE, RARE, OR SIGNED MODERN LIBRARY EDITIONS OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL MONTHS FROM 30 YEARS OF ACTIVE COLLECTING AROUND THE WORLD - PLEASE VISIT MY SELLERS PAGE TO VIEW THEM ALL**.

Seller Inventory # 000488

Bibliographic Details

• Title: The Picture of Dorian Gray **THIS IS THE HOLY GRAIL FOR MODERN LIBRARY COLLECTORS. FIRST EDITION, FIRST PRINTING, FIRST EVER BOOK PUBLISHED BY THE MODERN LIBRARY. AND IT'S IN FINE PRISTINE UNREAD CONDITION!!**
• Publisher: The Modern Library / Boni & Liveright, New York
• Publication Date: 1917
• Language: English
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition: 1st Edition
• Printing: 1st Printing
• Condition: Fine
• Dust Jacket Condition: Near Fine