[Rarebooks] FS: Lew Wallace's The Prince of India

[Karen Howell]

>From the author of Ben-Hur, I offer:

WALLACE, Lewis (1827-1905).  The Prince of India: Or, Why Constantinople Fell.  New York: Harper & Brothers, 1893.  Two volumes.  8vo.  7 x 5 inches.  (viii), 502; (vi) 578 pp.  Text clean, un-marked.  Bound in quarter tan calf, calf corners, marbled paper over boards, gilt ruled covers, raised bands, red and green leather spine labels, gilt titled and decorated spines, top edge gilt; binding square and tight, shelf wear.  Very Good. 

$ 50

FIRST EDITION, later printing, with the dedication to David Wallace dated May 20, 1893.  Lewis "Lew" Wallace was an American lawyer, governor, Union General in the American Civil War, politician and author.  He is best remembered as the author of the historical novel Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ.  The Prince of India is set in the years leading up to the sack of Constantinople in 1453 by the Turks.  The main character is the Wandering Jew in disguise; the Wandering Jew was a popular character in nineteenth century fiction who was present during Jesus Christ's trip to Golgotha carryig the cross upon which He was crucified.  According to legend, the Wandering Jew struck or insulted Jesus, who turned to him and said, "Tarry thou until I come," with the result that the Wandering Jew was cursed with immortality.  In The Prince of India, the Wandering Jew is a vengeful character who travels to Constantinople to present the idea of a one-world religion to the Emperor, and, upon being spurned, lends his service to Mohammed II, who captures the city.  The idea for the novel came when President James Garfield appointed Lew Wallace U.S. Minister to Turkey in 1881, and requested that Wallace research and write another novel while in Turkey.  Harper & Brothers gave Wallace a $500,000 advance for The Price of India, hoping to repeat the success of Ben-Hur.  Reference BAL 20819. 

TERMS OF SALE: Subject to Prior Sale.  Reciprocal trade discount available.  Returnable.  Postage paid Media Mail within the US; International orders billed at cost.  CA sales tax where applicable, unless valid resale certificate provided or on file.  Checks, Money Order or PayPal preferred.  Call or e-mail to reserve.

John Howell
310 367-9720