THE SNAKE'S PASS . Stoker, Bram Adventure Fiction,Irish Fiction,Mystery & Crime,Victorian Fiction

Octavo, pp. [1-8] [1] 2-365 [366: blank] [367: printer's colophon] [368: blank], publisher's pictorial scarlet cloth, front panel stamped in gold and ruled in blind, spine panel stamped in gold, rear panel ruled in blind, yellow coated endpapers. First edition. The author's first novel, published 18 November 1890. Presentation copy with signed inscription by Stoker dated one day prior to publication on half title page: "Henry A. Blyth / from Bram Stoker / 17.11.90." Adventure novel concerning the discovery of lost treasure and the crown of the legendary king of the snakes in Western Ireland. "A tale written around the strange phenomenon of a moving bog. Scene: the Mayo coast, which is finely described. Hidden treasure, prophetic dreams, attempted murder, and much love and sentiment are bound up with the story." - Brown, Ireland in Fiction 1551. Hubin (1994), p. 775. Dalby 5a. This copy was probably re-cased (many years ago); the endpapers are a darker yellow coated stock than usually encountered, and the first leaf (blank save for signature mark "A" on recto) appears to have been replaced (the leaf in this copy lacks the "A"). Binding slightly leaned (as is often the case with this book), a clean, tight, very good copy with no binding wear and bright stamping on front cover. Overall a nice copy of a scarce book seldom found signed or inscribed by Stoker. (#177664)