THE SURVIVORS OF THE CHANCELLOR by Verne, Jules - 1876

1876. Diary of J.R. Kazallon, Passenger. Translated from the French by Ellen Frewer. Boston: James R. Osgood and Company, 1876. Original green cloth pictorially decorated in black and gilt, beveled.

First American Illustrated Edition, actually printed in London. In mid-1875 Osgood published the first edition in English, unillustrated, as a little volume in their "Saunterer's Series." In November 1875, Sampson Low published the first illustrated edition in London. Then in January 1876, Osgood issued some of the British sheets in their own binding, constituting the first American illustrated edition -- as here. In March 1876 -- just two months later -- Osgood's financial situation forced him to sell at auction the plates and unsold copies of the five Verne titles he had published; these were bought by one Albert Mason, who in turn sold them to Porter & Coates of Philadelphia -- who would then proceed to use the plates to publish editions of their own. (Porter & Coates also issued some copies with the Osgood 1876 title page, but with "Porter & Coates" at the foot of the spine.) As with the British edition, the volume also includes the early Verne tale "Martin Paz," though it is not mentioned on the binding nor on the title page. This copy is in green cloth, and the gilt vignette on the front cover is centered (no known priority). It is a bright, near-fine copy (fine except for minor rubbing at the extremities). Apparently because of Osgood's then-pending doom, this is today a scarce book. Taves & Michaluk V014; Myers 47.