Frankenstein
by Shelley, Mary
Frankenstein; or, the Modern Prometheus is a Gothic novel written by Mary Shelley in 1818. The story revolves around Victor Frankenstein, a scientist who creates a monstrous creature and immediately regrets his actions, abandoning the creature to its own devices. The creature, seeking acceptance and revenge, terrorizes Victor and those he loves. Themes of ambition, ethics, humanity, and loneliness are explored through Shelley's vivid descriptions of the natural world and her characters' psychological torment. Frankenstein remains a classic of Gothic literature and a seminal work of science fiction.
Mary Wollstonecraft Godwin wrote the first draft of her groundbreaking novel in 1816, while on a trip to Lake Geneva with her soon-to-be husband, poet Percy Bysshe Shelley, and poet Lord Byron. They were stuck indoors during famously known as the Year Without a Summer.
First Edition Identification
A small London publishing house, Lackington, Hughes, Harding, Mavor & Jones, first printed Frankenstein: or, the Modern Prometheus in a limited series of just 500 copies on January 1, 1818. By then, Mary was just 20 years old. The first edition was published anonymously in 1818, with a preface by Percy B. Shelley and a dedication to Mary’s father, philosopher William Godwin. Mary Shelley didn’t publicly claim her novel until years later, and her name appears in the second edition, published in 1823. First edition original pasteboards were in blueish gray.
First editions are very scarce and exceptionally rare on the market. In 2021 one of the first 500 copies of the novel was sold at auction for $1.17 million. It was the first Frankenstein first edition copy to be auctioned since 1985.
Other Collectible or Notable Editions
Frankenstein by Mary Shelley is considered today one of the world’s first science-fiction novels, which addresses key questions of what it means to be human. All first three printings of Frankenstein are scarce and very desirable for collectors.
In 1831, Mary Shelley published a revised edition with several narrative changes. This 1831 text is the one that’s most widely known. Shelley also added an introduction, in which she describes how the story of Frankenstein came to be and removed the Paradise Lost epitaph that was on the title page of the 1818 edition.
The first illustrated edition was published in two volumes by Colburn and Bentley, London in 1831, illustrated by Theodor von Holst and engraved by William Chevalier.
Among other collectible editions of Frankenstein is the one done by artist and graphic novel pioneer Lynd Ward in 1934. In 2022 Angela Barret illustrated a Folio Society edition of Frankenstein limited to 750 copies, signed by the artist.
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Frankenstein: or, The Modern Prometheus; The Ghost Seer; Edgar Huntley
by Shelley, Mary; Schiller, Friedrich; Brown, Charles Brockden.
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- Used - Near Fine
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- First Edition
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- 1831
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- Hardcover
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New York, New York, USA
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$27,500.00
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Frankenstein
by Shelley, Mary
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- Used
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- Original Hardcover
- ISBN
- 9789176451977
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Umea, SWE
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$30.23
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Frankenstein (Folio Numbered Limited Edition)
by Mary Shelley
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- New
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- No Jacket
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- 1st Edition 1st Printing
- Published
- 2022
- Binding
- Hardcover
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St Albans, Hertfordshire, GBR
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$872.02
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Frankenstein
by Mary Shelley
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- New
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- Fine binding
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Warszawa, POL
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$900.00
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Frankenstein
by Mary Shelley
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- New
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- Paperback / softback
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- 9781853260230
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- 1
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Southport, Merseyside, GBR
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$6.85
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Frankenstein (Signet Classics)
by Mary Shelley
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- Used
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- New
- ISBN
- 9780451532244
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Gilbertsville, Pennsylvania, USA
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$5.00
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Frankenstein
by mary shelley
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- Used: Good
- Edition
- Barnes & Noble Single Volume Leather bound Classic
- Published
- 0000-00-00
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- Hardcover
- ISBN
- 9781435136168
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- 1
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HOUSTON, Texas, USA
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$14.44
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Frankenstein, Or, The Modern Prometheus. [With Slipcase And Sandglass Booklet]
by Shelley, Mary Wollstonecraft; Introduction By Edmund Lester Pearson, Illustrations By E. Everett Henry
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- Used - Near Fine
- Jacket Condition
- Slipcase
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- 1934
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- Hardcover
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Pasadena, California, USA
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$99.00
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Frankenstein (Royal Collector's Edition) (Case Laminate Hardcover with Jacket)
by Mary Shelley
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- New
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- Hardback
- ISBN
- 9781774378328
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- 1
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Southport, Merseyside, GBR
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$51.85
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Frankenstein
by Shelley, Mary
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- 1st Printing
- Published
- 1965
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- Paperback
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Winnipeg, Manitoba, CAN
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$6.50
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Frankenstein (with) Denis Duval ("Caxton" edition)
by Mary Shelley
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- Used - Very Good
- Published
- 1890
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- Hardcover
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Bordentown, New Jersey, USA
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$300.00
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Frankenstein
by Shelley, Mary
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- Used - Very Good
- Published
- 2000
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- Mass Market Paperback
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- 9780451527714
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- 1
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Seattle, Washington, USA
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$5.99
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Frankenstein (Collins Classics)
by Mary Shelley
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- New
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- Paperback / softback
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- 9780007350964
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Southport, Merseyside, GBR
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$6.13
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Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus
by Mary Shelley
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- Used
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Wilmington, Delaware, USA
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$125.00
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Oxford Playscripts: Frankenstein
by Shelley, Mary
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- Used - Very Good
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- Paperback
- ISBN
- 9780198314981
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GORING BY SEA, West Sussex, GBR
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$2.46
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Frankenstein
by Shelley, Mary
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- Used - Very Good
- Edition
- Reprint
- Published
- 1960
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- Paperback
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- 1
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Winnipeg, Manitoba, CAN
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$9.00
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Frankenstein
by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley
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- New
- Published
- pp. 352
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- Hardback
- ISBN
- 9780141393391
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- 1
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Woodside, New York, USA
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$17.04
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Frankenstein or The Modern Prometheus
by Shelley, Mary
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- 1st thus
- Published
- 2015
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Perth, Western Australia, AUS
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$500.02
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Frankenstein (Signature Editions)
by Shelley, Mary
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- New
- ISBN
- 9781435171442
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Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
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$14.39
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Frankenstein: Collector's Special Edition (Deluxe Illustrated Classics)
by Shelley, Mary
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- UsedLikeNew
- ISBN
- 9781454951575
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Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
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$36.05