1888 Rare Book - Frankenstein or, The Modern Prometheus by Mary Shelley

Author: Mrs. Shelley (Mary Shelley).
Title: Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus.
Publisher: London, George Routledge and Sons, 1888.
Language: Text in English.
Size: 5 x 4 inches.
Pages: xv-317 pages + publisher's ad.
Binding: Very good, lovely 19th-century half red cloth over marbled boards with gilt-lettered black leather label to spine (hinges fine, overall slightly scuffed - as shown, the spine is slightly darkened - as shown) under a protective removable mylar cover. A rare find in such a nice condition!
Content: Very good content (bright, tight and clean, very rare light foxing - as shown, some age toning to endpapers - as shown, previous owner’s inscription appears on the front free endpaper and first blank page: “G. L. May – June 1891" - as shown)

Estimate: (USD 900–1250).

The book: A scarce Victorian-era edition of Mary Shelley’s groundbreaking Gothic novel Frankenstein, originally published in 1818. This 1888 Routledge printing offers the complete text in a compact and elegantly bound form, reflective of late 19th-century taste. The narrative of Victor Frankenstein and his tragic creation continues to resonate as a timeless exploration of ambition, alienation, and ethical responsibility in science.

The author: Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley (1797–1851) was an English novelist and the daughter of famed writer Mary Wollstonecraft and philosopher William Godwin. She wrote Frankenstein at the age of 18, during the legendary summer of 1816 at Lake Geneva. Often cited as the first true science fiction novel, Frankenstein bridges the gap between Gothic horror and Romantic philosophy, establishing Shelley as a foundational figure in speculative literature.