MAGGIE. A Girl of the Streets

1896. New York: D. Appleton and Company, 1896. 12 pp undated ads. Original tan cloth decorated in red and black.

First Published Edition of Crane's first book -- the sad tale of Maggie Johnson growing up (and forced into prostitution) in the Bowery slums of New York City; two years later appeared a very similar first-book in London -- Somerset Maugham's LIZA OF LAMBETH. Crane discovered, in 1893, that no publisher would touch a book with this subject matter -- so he had it printed up himself (by "Johnston Smith"); hence the exceedingly scarce 1893 privately-printed edition in wrappers, under the pseudonym "Johnston Smith" -- much of which Crane is said to have used for fuel one winter. According to this Appleton edition's publisher's note, ... it should be said that Maggie has never been published before, even in serial form. The story was put into type and copyrighted by Mr. Crane three years ago, but this real and strenuous tale of New York life is now given to the public for the first time. Crane's second book was his 1895 volume of verse, THE BLACK RIDERS, followed by the book that brought him fame, THE RED BADGE OF COURAGE. It was the success of this latter book in late 1895 that prompted its publisher Appleton to bring out this edition of MAGGIE, about eight months later, in the same binding as THE RED BADGE. This copy is printed on laid paper and has the title page printed in upper case only: Blanck cites no priority between the two, but Stallman considers the wove-paper / upper-and-lower-case copies to be earlier. Condition is very good-plus (little wear, but with some soil that seems unavoidable on this light-colored cloth). Williams & Starrett 8; Blanck 4075.