Merriman, Henry Seton
WITH EDGED TOOLS
London: Smith, Elder & Co.: 1894
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WITH EDGED TOOLS by Henry Seton Merriman. Published in London by Smith, Elder & Co. in three hardbound volumes. First Edition. Each volume has the ownership signature of Mary C. Clayton, Wavertree, Liverpool, dated 1895. There are no other markings in the text. Vol. I: 269 pages with 10 pages of publisher's advertisements. Vol. II: 284 pages with 4 pages of publisher's advertisements. Vol. I: 285 pages with 2 pages of publisher's advertisements. All half title pages included. In very good condition. Bound in brown cloth with gilt lettering on the spines and black ink lettering on the front panels. Light yellow end papers. The bindings are somewhat slanted. Unfortunately the spines of volumes I and III show shelf wear but could be repaired. Merriman was a highly regarded novelist at the end of the 19th century. With Edged Tools is noted as one of the earliest novels centered on the exploration and exploitation of Africa and is considered a precursor of Conrad's Heart of Darkness which was published in serial form six years later in 1890.
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