Verne, Jules

8vo (202 x 135mm.), FIRST AMERICAN EDITION, FIRST ISSUE (with vignette of jellyfish on upper board and title reading "sea" on spine), half-title, frontispiece and 108 plates, original decorative blue cloth gilt, collector's blue cloth chemise and morocco backed slipcase, lacking one plate at p.92, slightly rolled, gilt a little rubbed

Condition is described in the main body of the cataloguing, where appropriate.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

Translation and publication of Verne's Vingt Mille Lieues sous les Mers for the English and American markets was notoriously problematic. In 1871, Samson Low acquired the English rights to several of Verne's books, and recruited Lewis Page Mercier, better known by his pen name Mercier Lewis, to undertake the translation of this first title. Mercier worked quickly, but cut almost a quarter of Verne's original text and made copious translation errors - including the mistranslation of the title to 'Under the Sea' rather than 'Seas'.

This first American edition appeared in late 1872, a few weeks after the publication of the British edition and most probably bound from the same sheets but with a jellyfish vignette on the cover. It appears that this edition was quickly exhausted and only around 50 copies are known to exist.