281

Rudyard Kipling (1865-1936)

Kim. Rare First American Edition in Parts.

New York: McClure's Magazine, December 1900-October 1901.
First American serialized edition, first issue, in 11 octavo parts; with two potential forgeries of Kipling's signature and one of writer Eugene Field's (1850-1895) on front wrapper of first part, likely by Field's son, the famous American forger, Eugene Field II (1887-1944); illustrated with 17 black-and-white plates, 8 after J. Lockwood Kipling and 9 after wash drawings by E.L. Weeks; bound in original publisher's pictorial wrappers, printed in black and various colors (text leaves generally bright and clean, a handful of advertisements cut out, a few open marginal tears to ad leaves; two or three wrapper panels detached, majority of wrappers with repairs, losses at spines, edge chipping, a few small stains); together in a custom morocco-backed slipcase and chemise; 9 7/8 x 6 ¾ in.

Kipling's final and most famous work, Kim, was first published serially in McClure's Magazine from December 1900 to October 1901. This edition appeared simultaneously with the first English, which ran in Cassell's Magazine from January to November of 1901. Copies of the present true first edition in parts are extremely scarce at auction, with only two records from the 1940s appearing in RBH. 

This lot is made all the more interesting because of three potentially forged signatures by the notorious Eugene "Pinny" Field, best known for the Coachman Forgeries, on which he collaborated with bookseller Harry Dayton Sickles. To increase the value of books they were selling, many from Eugene Field senior's personal collection, they added the signature of President Abraham Lincoln. Seeking to strengthen the validity of the false autographs, Field and Sickles hired Mary Todd Lincoln's former coach driver, William P. Brown, to autograph the material as proof of their authenticity. Many of the items were further authenticated by notary Frank E. Thatcher, who recognized Brown's signature and notarized both. The Abraham Lincoln Association eventually caught on and exposed the group. Fields and Sickles faced no legal repercussions, and quickly pivoted to forging the names of Kipling, Roosevelt, and Twain through the 1940s. 

Livingston 248.

Provenance: Hubbard Bartlett Whiting (ex-libris bookplate laid-in).

  • Condition: Please contact us to request a condition report:
    Devon Eastland, Senior Specialist: [email protected]
    Grace Meschery-McCormack, Cataloguer: [email protected]


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April 23, 2026 10:30 AM EDT
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