Treasure Island - The Classic Pirate Adventure Story


Treasure Island is an adventure novel by Robert Louis Stevenson. The story was originally serialized in the children's magazine Young Folks, under the title The Sea Cook, as the work of "Captain George North" over a period of several months from 1881-82. Treasure Island was first published as a book by Cassell and Company of London in 1883. Roberts Brothers of Boston published the first illustrated edition and the first US edition in 1884, and followed the next year (1885) with a paperback version using the same illustrations as the 1884 edition.




What we have is the 1885 Roberts Brothers’ paperback edition. It is complete, except for missing the back cover … something almost unheard of for these lower quality mass publications. Look at the photos for condition … but I describe it as very good for a 130-year old paperback. These paperbacks … which later were called “dime store novels” … brought literature to the masses at a time when many in the population could not read or write.

Traditionally considered a coming-of-age story, Treasure Island is the classic pirate tale, known for its superb atmosphere, character and action. It is one of the most frequently dramatized of all novels. The influence of Treasure Island on popular perception of pirates is vast ... including treasure maps where an "X" marks the spot, pirate schooners, the "Black Spot," tropical islands and one-legged ship’s captains with parrots on their shoulders. 






Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson. Published by Roberts Brothers, Boston. ©1883. Published 1885. Paperback including illustrations. viii, 292 p.; Illustrations plus map; 17x11 cm; Advertisements bound in at the end. Price $85.00.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Hi! I'm Buster Brown. I live in a shoe....

Image
Do you remember Buster Brown shoes? I do. I also remember watching the Buster Brown TV show ... Smilin' Ed's Gang and later Andy's Gang. The shoes were "special." Back in those days I went to Catholic school and the nun's required us to wear shoes ... I mean real shoes ... "oxfords" we called them. Mom bought us Buster Brown shoes 'cause they would last the whole year! The advertising line for Buster Brown was: Hi! I'm Buster Brown. I live in a shoe.  That's my dog Tige. He lives in there too! The Brown S hoe C ompany has been around for over 130 years. Today they also market Famous Footwear and Naturalizers, and they are a contract manufacturer for other shoe brands.  But they are most well-known for the Buster Brown line of shoes. In 190 2, cartoonist Richard Outcault introduced a new comic strip character, a mischievous little rich boy named Buster Brown and his dog Tige. Two years later, at the 1904 St. Louis W...
Read more

Old Lava Stone Church in Kilauea, Kauai, Hawaii

Image
Christ Memorial Episcopal Church, Kilauea, Kauai, Hawaii On our recent vacation to the Hawaiian island of Kauai, we stopped in to this wonderful old church. We had seen is many times, but this was the first time we stopped to look inside. Wow! The hand-carved altar and communion rail are gorgeous! The stained glass windows are equally as beautiful. The Christ Memorial Episcopal Church is located just off the main highway in the town of Kilauea. It is still an active mission church, with services on Sundays and Holy Days. According to the church's website: There is also an interesting history attached to the church itself. As early as 1888 worship services were held in Kilauea ... By 1924 the time had come for a permanent church in Kilauea ... In 1939 the Kilauea Sugar Company deeded the churchyard to Christ Memorial Church and gave the native stone used in the erection of the present building ... The graveyard surrounding the church dates back to the earliest days of ...
Read more

Rosaries, Prayer Books & Religious Medals

Image
It's the time of year when Christians, Catholics in particular, celebrate post Easter rituals like first communion and confirmation.  And June is known as weddings month!  At Vintages we always have a nice selection of vintage religious items like rosaries, medals of saints and the Holy Family, prayer books and pocket shrines.  Below is a sampling of what is currently available. Rosaries with beads of crystal, sterling silver, olive wood and molded glass.  We even have a few that have reliquaries included. Rosary cases, holy water fonts, little plaques with holy pictures and ecclesiastical sayings. Wonderful old miniature prayer books, first communion mementos, and a new testament bible from the early 1700s. Religious medals, pocket crucifixes and shrines.  In addition, we have a large selection of crosses.
Read more