Description
First edition, first issue of Jack London’s first published book, The Son of the Wolf. Ownership inscription dated the month the book was first issued by the publisher.
Octavo, [i-viii], [1]- 251pp, [2]. Greenish-black cloth, title in silver on spine. This is Trail Binding Variant B, State 1, with the imprint on spine stating “Houghton / Mifflin & Co.” without periods on either side of the ampersand. All known dated copies from April 1900 are Trial Binding Variant B.
Slight lean to text block, silver stamping rubbed. Spine cracked at flyleaves, but binding is solid. Includes frontispiece with tissue guard. Previous owner’s bookplate affixed to front paste down.
(Sisson & Martens 1) (BAL 11869) (Woodbridge 1)
The Son of the Wolf was Jack London’s first published novel. From March 27 – July 18, 1900, 2028 copies of the first issue of The Son of the Wolf were printed. The second printing consisted of 1010 copies, printed after July 13, 1900. This copy belonged to Howard B. Odell and is dated April 21st, 1900, only 25 days after the first copies were bound in cloth.
