Jules VERNE

First edition illustrated with 101 drawings by Benett and a map. BR catalogue for 1884 at the end.

Publisher’s pictorial cloth binding known as "Aux deux éléphants" in fir green (design signed by Souze, Lenègre binder at foot of spine). A very bright front cover with brilliant gilt. Rear cover with signs of rubbing. The percaline cloth retains its sheen. Rubbing to corners, edges, spine ends and joints. Internally clean and free of foxing. A handsome copy, scarce in this color.

Illustrated edition with drawings by J. Férat, engraved by Barbant.
Rare publisher's navy blue cloth binding known as "aux deux éléphants", signed by Lenègre, type 1, spine with three gilt compartments, lower cover without medallion, gilt mention "Engel rel." at foot of spine, brown endpapers and pastedowns, all edges gilt.
Rubbing to spine ends, small loss of cloth at foot of spine, white discoloration spots on pastedowns, slightly bumped corners, scattered light foxing, scuffing along the fore-edge margin of lower cover.
One of the author's most celebrated adventure novels, in which Michel Strogoff, courier of the Tsar of Russia, must travel from Moscow to Irkutsk (capital of Eastern Siberia) to warn the Tsar's brother of the approaching Tartar hordes intent on invading Siberia.

Illustrated edition featuring 172 vignettes by Riou, engraved by Pannemaker.
Publisher’s royal blue cloth over red boards, known as “à la bannière”, with front cover plaque signed by Souze, bevelled boards of type 7, cold-stamped Lenègre type 3 cover, binding signed Lenègre at foot of spine, HF catalogue at the end of the volume.
Headcaps slightly compressed as often, corners and lower edge a little frayed, occasional foxing, first gathering starting to loosen.

A pleasant copy.
The plot of this work, one of the author’s great classics, follows two children in search of their shipwrecked father, from Scotland to New Zealand via the Canary Islands, Cape Verde, the Strait of Magellan, the Andes, the Argentine pampa, the Cape of Good Hope, Amsterdam Island, and Australia.

New edition illustrated with 79 engravings by Riou and De Montaut, and a double-page map.
Publisher’s red cloth binding known as “Aux initiales”; first issue in this binding and with this newly designed cover, following the earlier “bouquets of roses” editions. Charles Magnier credited as binder at foot of spine. Rear cover of type Magnier C1, with black Greek key borders framing the central medallion and black concentric circles delimiting the ornamental bands.

Some foxing.
Some minor black marks on the spine, slightly rubbed at head and foot as often; a faint light spot to the left margin of the rear cover, which also shows a few tiny black specks along the right edge; two corners of the rear cover lightly worn. Occasional scattered foxing. Two small labels on the front pastedown, one of which is partially detached.
A handsome copy.
Cinq semaines en ballon was the first novel by Verne published by Hetzel. It offered a compelling summary of contemporary knowledge of Africa, much of which remained unknown to the public at the time. The author laid the groundwork for his future work, skilfully blending adventurous narrative with scientific and technical information. A learned explorer and his hunter companion travel across East Africa_