Kipling Rudyard

1898 · réf. 002257 — New York: Charles Scribner's Sons 1898. This is a beautiful set of eighteen volumes issued from 1898 to 1900. Maroon cloth fine binding; front cover is ruled in gilt and has a white escutcheon featuring an elephant and a swastika; the spines are decorated as well in gilt. Topedges are gilt others deckle. Fine quality laid paper. Contents: "Plain Tales from the Hills" 350 pages; "Soldiers Three and Military Tales" - Part I 307 pages and Part II 589 pages; "In Black and White" 386 pages; "The Phantom Rickshaw & Other Stories" 387 pages; "Under the Deodars The Story of the Gadsbys & Wee Willie Winkie" 368 pages; "The Jungle Book" 341 pages; "The Second Jungle Book" 228 pages; "The Light That Failes" 329 pages; "The Naulahka" 377 pages; "Verses 1889-1896" 359 pages; "Captains Couageous" 242 pages; "The Day's Work" - Part I 310 pages & Part II 303 pages; "From Sea to Sea" - Part I 494 pages & Part II 553 pages; "Early Verse" 292 pages; and "Stalky & Co." 330 pages. The general condition is Very Good Plus to Near Fine. The spines have faded to a light brown color evenly so they all still match. The endpapers are typically foxed; sometimes some spotting on the tissue guards with transfer to the Title Page. Quercus notes a cracked front hinge and a stain oil on the rear cover of Volume 1. Volume 5 has a wrinkle on the rear cover. Volumes 14 and 15 have partially-cracked rear gutters. None of these defects really detract from the handsome nature of the set which should assume a proud place of honor as they provide many hours of entertaining reading. Kipling may have been a colonialist but he was a damn fine writer. Size: 8vo - over 7¾" - 9¾" tall. First Edition. Decorative Cloth. Near Fine/No Jacket. Charles Scribner's Sons Hardcover