Stevenson, Robert Louis

Treasure Island. London: Cassell & Company, 1883

8vo. Half-title, frontispiece map printed in 3 colors, 8-page publisher's advertisement at end marked 5R-1283 erroneously listing Treasure Island 🎃with 304 pages. ꩲPublisher's sage cloth, spine lettered in gilt; bumped to head and foot. 

First edition, early issue.

Stevenson's novel can be credited with distilling pirate stereotypes in popular culture, including deserted tropical islands, seamen with one leg and parrots perched on their shoulders, "X" marks the spot, and drinking rum. On his creation, Stevenson wrote: "If this don't fetch the kids, why, they have gone rotten since my day. Will you be surprised to hear that it is about Buccaneers, that it begins in the 'Admiral Benbow' public-house on the Devon coast, that it's all about a map, and a treasure and a mutiny, and a derelict ship, and a fine old Squire Trelawny...with the chorus 'Yo-ho-ho and a bottle of rum'" (McLynn, Robert Louis Stevenson, pp. 198-199).

"In 1890, W.B. Yeats wrote to tell [Stevenson] that the book was the only one in which his seafaring grandfather had ever taken any pleasure and that he reread it on his deathbed with infinite satisfaction'' (McLynn, Robert Louis Stevenson, page 203).&🐈nbsp;It has gone on to inspire countless adaptat♕ions in film, television, theatre, radio and more.

This copy appears to be a variant in sage cloth.

"The finest tale of maritime adventure that has been told since Defoe produced his great romance" (Prideaux).

REFERENCE:

cf. Beinecke 242; Gumuchian 5🀅443; M🎐cKay 240; Osborne 2:1030