Young Folks published Treasure Island in 17 weekly instalments from 1 October 1881 to 28 January 1882. I don’t get illustrated-a blessing that’s the price I have to pay for my copyright”. a page of 450 words that’s not noble, is it? But I have my copyright safe. Stevenson does not seem to have been concerned about this he writes to Henley in September 1881, “The terms are £2, 10s. Unusually for a Young Folks story, Treasure Island only received one illustration, most likely because of Stevenson’s relative lack of fame. As Roger Swearingen records, Young Folks actually received complaints about the story in its original form and unlike The Black Arrow (1883), it did nothing to raise the paper’s circulation. In fact, despite its current fame and enduring popularity, Treasure Island did not make Stevenson a household name. Consequently, Stevenson was always interested in the illustration of his work, not only for the commercial benefits of increased circulation, but also for their artistic merit in entertaining his readers. This was as true at the end of the nineteenth century as it is today. However, a major part of popular literature is how it intersects with popular visual culture.

Stevenson was consciously writing popular fiction for a popular audience, which has been well documented by recent literary criticism. Wyeth’s famous illustrations in the 1930s, through to Walt Disney’s various adaptations, from the definitively influential 1950 version starring Robert Newton version to 2002’s Treasure Planet. Meade’s 1892 book Four on an Island, which also recounts a story of four related children including a tomboy along with a dog living on a private island with a shipwreck.There have been many posthumous illustrative treatments and cinematic adaptations of Stevenson’s most famous work, Treasure Island, from N.C. It has been suggested that the book was influenced by L. It is the first book in The Famous Five series.

Rare in such a bright dust wrapper, due to its inherent fragility. Overall, this is a near fine copy of a wildly popular children’s title. The internals are pristine and crisp and the text blocks, though slightly toned due to poor paper stock, are mostly free from foxing.

There is an impress from a previous owner’s inscription to the front fly leaf. There is a small stain to the front panel, which appears to be a rust stain. The boards are so slightly bumped at the top and tail of the spine. Soper, is strikingly bright on both panels, though has undergone some mild and highly professional restoration at the top and tail of the spine and along the top and tail edges of both panels. The dust wrapper, with its iconic design from the hand of Eileen A. Published by Hodder and Stoughton in London, 1942.

Treasure island first edition