323

John William Polidori (1795-1821)

The Vampyre; A Tale.

London: Printed for Sherwood, Neeley and Jones, 1819.
First edition, third Sherwood issue, octavo; with the half-title and title page reset to omit Bryon's name, the preliminary "Extract of a Letter from Geneva" set in 23 lines, "a" dropped from "almost" on page 36, including the "Extract of a Letter Containing Account of Lord Byron's Residence in the Island of Mitylene" at rear, and without advertisements as issued; bound in drab paper wrappers (scattered spots and stains, some soiling, biopredation to lower margin of last three leaves; minor surface losses to wrapper); 8 7/8 x 5 3/8 in. 

The first vampire novel of the English language, Polidori's The Vampyre, was originally attributed to Lord Byron, for whom Polidori served as personal physician and secretary. Polidori was present on the famous dark and stormy night at Byron's Villa Diodati during which Mary Shelly conceived what would become her greatest work, Frankenstein. In fact, the present lot includes one of the first published accounts of that occasion. 

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April 23, 2026 10:30 AM EDT
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