ADVENTURES IN THE LAND OF THE BEHEMOTH ..

Boston: Henry L. Shepard & Co., 1874. Octavo, pp. [1-2] 3-4 [5-6] 7-190 [191-192: blank] [note: last leaf is a blank], fly leaves at front and rear, twenty inserted plates with illustrations by J. Ferat, original pictorial terra cotta cloth, front and spine panels stamped in black and gold, slate coated endpapers. An unauthorized edition. A translation of AVENTURES DE TROIS RUSSES ET DE TROIS ANGLAIS DANS L'AFRIQUE AUSTRALE (1872). Shepard's edition was preceded by the authorized 1873 Scribner, Welford & Armstrong edition titled MERIDIANA: THE ADVENTURES OF THREE ENGLISHMEN AND THREE RUSSIANS IN SOUTH AFRICA ... (an edition made up from the sheets of the British edition published by Sampson Low in late 1872, but dated 1873 on the title page). Shepard's pirated edition was published the same day as Scribner's authorized new edition of MERIDIANA (their first edition to be printed in America). The texts of the Shepard and the Scribner translations differ considerably. Bleiler (1948), p. 273. Myers 39 (addenda, p. 2). Taves and Michaluk V009. Early owner's signature dated 1874 on the front free endpaper. A bright, fine copy. (#156931) (Inventory #: 156931)