The Mysterious Island: Wrecked in the Air (Authorized Edition).

New York: Scribner, Armstrong & Co., 1875. First American Edition . Cloth. Very Good. 8vo - over 7¾" - 9¾" tall. [uncredited]. New York: Scribner, Armstrong & Co., 1875. First American Edition and First English Language Edition in Book Form [Sampson, Low, Marston & Co. in England had serialized this first of three parts of Mysterious Island in March of 1874 in St. James Magazine]. With a singular tall, slender octavo format with 48 illustrations for this first edition of Wrecked in the Air, Scribner Armstrong continued their bitter competition with Henry L. Shepard of Boston, who announced on the same day, October 27th, 1874 [under the title "Shipwrecked in the Air"]. This Scribner Armstrong edition, however, was the authorized one - letters of authorization from French true first edition pubisher Jules Hetzel and from Sampson, Marston & Low are reproduced on the recto of the frontispiece - and Shepard could only counter with "Authentic Edition". Date of 1875 on the title page is correct, with 1874 entry date noted on the verso of the title page - where Scribner also continues his battle with Shepard by cautioning the buyer against "any editions ...which do not bear the imprint of Scribner, Armstrong & Co....works published under other other imprints are PIRATED, and cannot fail to be inferior in every particular...". Taves & Michaluk [V013] appear to concur that the Shepard edition can be deduced to have been pirated from the Sampson, Low serialized product. Nonetheless, that Shepard edition, which was well-made, is a collectible edition in its own right. This Scribner's true authorized first edition meets specs not just for the Verne collection, but as a souvenir of adventures in publishing as they were in the late nineteenth century. Note that the full three-part Mysterious Island tale was published somewhat later: Wrecked in the Air is the first part. Condition: Corners touched, spines tips fraying, small indications of soil and wear. Prior ownership by a long-term public service family in the Boston area: bookplate of Frederick M. Whitney on the front pastedown, and the signature of Willis S. Whitney - dated December 6th of 1874 in Boston - on the flyleaf. Handsome, bright and firm, better than very good. See scans. L20n