Doctor Nikola

London: Ward, Lock & Co., Limited., c1896. Cloth. Very Good. 7.5" by 5". Stanley L. Wood. The first book in Guy Boothby's thrilling Dr Nikola series. A scarce early edition of the first book from the Dr Nikola series. Undated. Dated by copies held at the British Library. In the publisher's original cloth. Variant binding, without motif to front board. Frontispiece, 16 plates and numerous vignettes by Stanley L. Wood. Collated complete. This work of gripping fiction is written by prolific Australian author Guy Boothby. Boothby was mentored by Rudyard Kipling and his books were affectionately remembered by George Orwell. This work is the first book in the Dr Nikola series and is one of Boothby's best known works. The series follows Dr Nikola, an occultist criminal mastermind seeking immortality and world domination. This unusual character was further brought to life in a play called 'The Adventures of Dr Nikola' which ran briefly in London in 1902. In the publisher's original cloth. Externally very smart with some light shelf wear and minimal rubbing to the front boards with the odd mark to the rear. Bumping to the head and tail of the spine with rubbing to the spine resulting in slight loss to the gilt. Offsetting to the front and rear end papers. Ink inscription dated 1901 to the front free end paper. Internally firmly bound. Clean and bright pages with the odd spot, heavier towards the rear. Very Good