Lot No: 9399

John William Polidori: 'The Vampyre; A Tale', London, Sherwood, Neely and Jones, 1819, 1st edition, 2nd state, half title, title page reset removing Byron's name, later state of p.36 with ''a'' in ''almost'' aligned, without 12pp adverts at end, first edition of the first vampire story in English, seminal work of gothic horror by Polidori, Byron's physician until 1817, the work was attributed to Byron stimulated by the introductory 'Extract of a Letter from Geneva' and the concluding account of Lord Byron's residence at the island of Mytilene, Byron quickly disavowed himself from the whole tale in a famous letter to Galignani, pp178-79 with tears to inner margin repaired, this copy with the black book label of famous book collector and bibiographer Michael Sadleir to inside top wrap, together with a loosely inserted entry for this copy from a 1932 Pickering catalogue with Sadleir's brief annotation, together with a photocopy of an entry for this copy from a 1991 Jarndyce catalogue, original brown paper wrappers slightly worn, contemporary ownership signature to top wrap 'Jane Blackburn, Knowlsley [?] 1819', green fold over cloth wrapper, slip case

Sale Price: £3,800.00