SHELLEY, Mary. Frankenstein; or, the Modern Prometheus. (FIRST PRINTING OF THE THIRD EDITION AND FIRST ILLUSTRATED EDITION - 1831)

AUTHOR: SHELLEY, Mary. 

TITLE: Frankenstein; or, the Modern Prometheus, Revised, Corrected, and Illustrated with a New Introduction by the Author - BOUND WITH - The Ghost Seer. Volume IX of Bentley's Standard Novels series. 

PUBLISHER: London: Henry Colburn & Richard Bentley, 1831.

DESCRIPTION: FIRST PRINTING OF THE THIRD EDITION AND FIRST ILLUSTRATED EDITION. 1 vol., with the engraved frontis and additional engraved title-page, and a new introduction by Mary Shelley, bound with the "Ghost-Seer" as issued.  Bound in contemporary 1/2 maroon morocco, ribbed gilt decorated spine, marbled edges.

CONDITION: Hinges fine, head and foot of spine fine, slight lean to spine, some toning to frontis and additional engraved title-page otherwise internally clean and bright, hinges fine, head and foot of spine fine, a VERY GOOD copy in a contemporary binding.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: All first three printings of "Frankenstein" are scarce.  The first printing of the third edition contains the first ever attempt to illustrate the Monster.  In her introduction, Shelley contextualizes the creation of her tale: "It proved a wet, ungenial summer, and incessant rain often confined us for days to the house. Some volumes of ghost stories, translated from the German into French, fell into our hands… 'We will each write a ghost story,' said Lord Byron; and his proposition was acceded to"..... "And now, once again, I bid my hideous progeny go forth and prosper".