STOKER, Bram (1847-1912). Dracula. Westminster: Archibald Constable and Company, 1897. 8vo. [x], [1]-390, [2, blank] pp. Publisher's full canary yellow cloth, boards and spine ruled and lettered in red. FIRST EDITION, FIRST PRINTING, WITHOUT "THE SHOULDER OF SHASTA" AD ON P. [392], WHICH IS BLANK HERE. One of an estimated 3,000 copies printed of the first printing. Dalby 10 (a).

Arguably one of the most famous novels in the English language, Dracula has had far-reaching influence on world culture which is felt even today, over a century after its publication. "Although it is based in part on the crude Varney the Vampire and the superior Carmilla by Le Fanu, Dracula remains the definitive treatment of the classical vampire, a work of great imagination and conviction. While it is generally conceded that it has technical weaknesses - wooden characters, sentimental writing, needless complexity - its virtues overweigh its flaws and it is one of the great classics of supernatural fiction." (Bleiler, The Guide to Supernatural Fiction 546.) Arthur Conan Doyle wrote of Dracula, "[it is] the very best story of diablerie which I have read for many years. It is really wonderful how with so much exciting interest over so long a book there is never an anticlimax."

Spine toned and somewhat soiled, some mild edgewear to spine and boards, boards bumped at upper corners and near headcap, two indentations to front board at fore-edge, some soiling to boards, front hinge with minor repair, rear hinge barely starting, some offsetting to endleaves, first 30 pages or so with indentations to the fore-edge similar to that of the front board, text a bit toned, some occasional bumping to text at fore-edge, a few gutters overopened or starting. Still, a very good copy, better than usually seen in this notorious binding which shows every minor flaw. Housed in modern yellow cloth clamshell case.