WELLS, H. G. (1866-1946). The Time Machine, London, 1895, original publisher's buckram. FIRST EDITION.

WELLS, H. G. (1866-1946).  The Time Machine. An Invention. London: William Heinemann, 1895. 8vo (177 x 115mm). Half title with one-page advertisement for "The Pioneer series" on the verso, 32-pages [i.e. 16 leaves] of publisher's advertisements at the end (half title and last few leaves of the advertisements spotted, [C8] and [F8] torn at margins without loss). Original publisher's oatmeal buckram lettered in violet with an illustration of a sphinx in violet on the upper cover and the author's monogram in violet on the lower cover, uncut (endpapers spotted). FIRST EDITION, with slightly later-issue advertisements at the end. In this copy, Heinemann's advertisements start with "Donovan Pasha" by Sir Gilbert Parker and end with "The Virgin on the Rocks" by Gabriele d' Annunzio. This indicates the printed sheets and binding cases from the first issue were still in stock and were being bound up as the trade demanded. Currey 424; Cutler and Stiles 153; Hammond B1; Wells Society 4: "The earliest known work of science fiction to be based on the idea of time travel".