1889 Rare Precursors of Science Fiction - The Last American by J.A. Mitchell

Author: J.A. Mitchell.
Title: The Last American. A Fragment from the Journal of Khan-Li, Prince of Dimph-Yoo-Chur and Admiral in the Persian Navy.
Publisher: New York, Frederick A. Stokes & Brother, MDCCCLXXXIX [1889]. Second Edition (stated).
Language: Text in English.
Size: 7 x 6 inches.
Pages: 78 pages.
Binding: Attractive and very good original publisher's decorative blue cloth with striking black and gilt vignette of a ruined New York skyline beneath a golden sun, and the Statue of Liberty silhouetted in the background (hinges fine, overall slightly worn and scuffed - as shown) under a protective removable mylar cover.
Content: Very good content (bright, tight, rare light foxing and staining - as shown).
Illustrations: Fully illustrated throughout with evocative black-and-white plates and vignettes by the author, presenting a post-apocalyptic vision of America seen through the lens of future Persian explorers. The artwork includes detailed architectural ruins, imagined archaeological discoveries, and speculative travel imagery. All illustrations present.

Estimate: (USD 150–200).

The book: A rare second edition and visually captivating example of late 19th-century dystopian satire, The Last American offers a speculative future in which Persian explorers discover the ruins of a long-fallen United States in the year 2951. Published during a time of American optimism and expansion, Mitchell’s work stands out as a prescient and ironic commentary on cultural arrogance and imperial decline. This second edition preserves the original’s visual and narrative appeal and remains highly desirable for collectors of dystopian fiction, illustrated books, and turn-of-the-century American literature.

The author: John Ames Mitchell (1844–1918), an American architect, artist, and writer, was also the founder of Life magazine. Known for his wit and visual sensibility, Mitchell used The Last American to blend satire, social critique, and visual storytelling. The book reflects his skill as both a commentator and illustrator, delivering a cautionary tale that is as visually compelling as it is intellectually provocative.