The Invisible Man. A Grotesque Romance - H. G. Wells 1897 - C. Arthur Pearson Limited, London - First Edition A bright, attractive copy of the first edition of one of the most important books of science fiction ever written.

I was invisible, and I was only just beginning to realise the extraordinary advantage my invisibility gave me. My head was already teeming with plans of all the wild and wonderful things I had now impunity to do’....

Wells' cult sci-fi novella is a commentary on the misuse of science for selfish ends; the famous story of a scientist who tampers with nature in his pursuit of superhuman powers.
  The only book by H. G. Wells published by Pearson

First edition first issue, with first page mis-numbered as 2, and one leaf of adverts to the rear printed on both sides.

References: Wells 11. Currey,
Science Fiction and Fantasy Authors, 419. Hammond B4. Bleiler 205. Bleiler, Science-Fiction: The Early Years 2330. Bleiler Fantastic Literature 281

Octavo (13 x 19 cm). pp. viii 245 [1] [2 publisher’s advertisements]. In publisher’s red cloth, titled in gilt to spine and front panel, outline of the invisible man blocked in black to front panel. Pages 161-164 and 173-176 (corresponding sheets from the same gathering) are poorly trimmed along the bottom edge, which, as they are from the same sheet and gathering may be indicative of an error during binding at the Gresham Press). Archival repair to 2 cm chip on lower corner of the delicate front free endpaper.
  Condition: Near fine, bright boards, clear titles in gilt and black design of, you guessed it, very gently sunned at spine (far less so than normally encountered), usual minor toning to endpapers and text block, archival attached 2 cm chip to lower corner of the delicate front free endpaper, trimmed lower edge of four sheets (consisting of pages 161-164 and 173-176) possibly during binding.   Ref: 108419   Price: HK$ 26,000