The War of the Worlds, H.G. Wells. First Edition, First State.

The War of the Worlds, H.G. Wells First edition of Wells' landmark science fiction novel, one of the first to to detail a conflict between mankind and an extraterrestrial race. Currey's state (A) with 16 pages of publisher's advertisements at end dated Autumn 1897, headed by New Letters of Napoleon I on the second page. London: William Heinemann, 1898. Publisher's original grey cloth, lettered in black; pp. viii, 303, [1], 16 ads. About very good. Binding a touch shaken and overopened at points, hinges starting, spine a bit cocked, still secure. Light general shelfwear and rubbing to boards. A handful of scattered stains and instances of foxing to pages, a couple small stickers neatly removed from endpaper edges, presumably from a former protective jacket. Overall, a very presentable copy.