Rudyard Kipling, Indian Tales | Oriental Edition

A handsome early American edition of Rudyard Kipling's Indian Tales, issued by the Dodge Publishing Company as part of its "Oriental Edition." This substantial collection brings together Kipling's stories of British India in an especially attractive decorative publisher's binding.

The red cloth boards are elaborately decorated in black, cream, green and gilt with an Oriental inspired geometric design extending across the front cover and spine. The gilt title remains bright on the front board, making this an unusually attractive display copy.

The title page identifies Dodge Publishing Company of New York and gives the firm's address as 148–156 West 23rd Street. The copyright page retains the original 1899 copyright of H. M. Caldwell Co., followed by an undated Dodge Publishing Company copyright. While bibliographic records frequently assign 1899 to the Dodge issue, the book itself does not provide a separate Dodge publication date, so we conservatively describe this copy as an undated early Dodge issue retaining the 1899 copyright.

Complete with the portrait frontispiece and all 16 full page illustrated plates, with illustrations credited to L. J. Bridgman and others.

The collection runs to 750 numbered pages and concludes with Kipling's L'Envoi.

Condition: Very Good. The decorative red cloth remains remarkably attractive, with strong color and well preserved cover decoration. Light rubbing and shelf wear are present, with somewhat greater wear and fading to the spine and minor wear at the spine ends and corners. The interior is notably clean and well preserved, with light age toning and little significant foxing visible. Binding remains sound. All 16 illustrated plates and the portrait frontispiece are present. No dust jacket.