Three Men in a Boat (To Say Nothing of the Dog) - Jerome K. Jerome, A. Fredericks (illustrator) 1889 - J. W. Arrowsmith, Bristol - First Edition, first Issue with 'Quay Street' on title page, second state. First edition, in a fancy binding, of one of the funniest English books ever written, and if you like to play on the water, should be required reading. In the words of Jerome K. Jerome ‘other books may excel this in depth of thought and knowledge of human nature: other books may rival it in originality and size; but, for hopeless and incurable veracity, nothing yet discovered can surpass it.’

Brilliantly illustrated throughout with small sketches and full page plates by A. Frederics.

The ultimate late-Victorian satire of the Great British Holiday, involving an ill-conceived jaunt along the Thames and a host of fabulously English characters including the relentlessly Pan-like canine companion Montmorency. Adapted in many forms, and notably voiced as an audiobook by Hugh Laurie, it develops an idyllically inept vision of England still familiar today.
  Provenance: Contemporary ownership inscription of A.L. Sankey dated Xmas 1889 to verso of half-title, with blind stamp of Walter Ruck stationers to the same leaf.

Dating ‘
Three Men in A Boat’ (really?), well the title page of the first edition, first issue, of 1889 had the publisher’s address as ‘Quay Street’ without the street number, later issues printed the address as ‘11 Quay Street’, the first issue also came in a number of different states, of which this is the second state with what appears to be moon in the sky on page 20 (there was no moon in the first state), and the ornamental initial 'I" on pages 77 and 95 have been corrected so that the dragons' heads point down, and finally the word "stream" is still present at the end of page 271 (it went missing in the later fourth state). Moving swiftly on, we look at the first page of advertisements to the rear, to note this has the first state advertisements starting with the listing of thirty seven Bristol Library titles ending in Max O'Rell's 'Jaques Bonhomme' (later ads list forty six titles). Thus this is the first edition first issue second state to be released to affect the sanity of all those who are fortunate enough to partake of its pleasures. And here endeth the palaver.

Reference: Toy,
Adventures Afloat 5414a.

Octavo (binding size 19.1x13.5cm), pp. [2] [2 (half title)] [2 (title)] [2 (preface)] 315 [3 (publisher’s ads)] [2].
  Finely bound in recent three-quarter black morocco over the publisher s original illustrated and lettered cyan cloth, spine with gilt lettering and traditional raised bands, all edges lightly trimmed.   Condition: Near fine, usual offsetting to first and last page, one or two small tears to an edge or two but generally a nice clean copy, in recent fine binding.   Ref: 111665   Price: HK$ 5,000