Stevenson, Robert Louis | “To be feared of a thing and yet to do it, is what makes the prettiest kind of a man.”

Property from the Workman Collection

Stevenson, Robert Louis

Kidnapped. Being Memoirs of the Adventures of David Balfour in the Year 1751. London: Cassell & Company, 1886

8vo (185 x 130 mm). Half-title, folding map, with "business" instead of "pleasure" on p. 40, "nine o'clock" rather than "twelve o'clock" on p. 64, and "Long Islands" instead of "Long Island" on p. 101, advertisement for Treasure Island at rear, along with 8pp. publisher’s ads dated 5.G.7.86. Publisher's crimson cloth, covers ruled in blind, spine gilt-lettered, black coated endpapers. Housed in custom slipcase and folding chemise. 

First edition, first issue. 

“There are two things that men should never weary of, goodness and humility; we get none too much of them in this rough world among cold, proud people.”

A fine copy of the first published edition, preceded only by a few copies of a proof edition that were printed in order to secure the copyright. The story was first serialized in Young Folks in the spring of 1886.

REFERENCE:

Prideux 18; McKay/Beinecke 1:378

PROVENANCE:

Beverly Chew (bookplate to front pastedown)