Jules Verne – A Fifteen-year-old Captain Hetzel Collection – Polychrome Hardcover

Jules Verne – A Fifteen-Year-Old Captain

Hetzel Collection – Polychrome “elephant-style” hardcover

A magnificent copy of one of Jules Verne’s most famous and endearing novels, *A Fifteen-Year-Old Captain*, published in Hetzel’s prestigious *Voyages Extraordinaires* collection.

Published in the late 19th century, this great maritime adventure novel recounts the extraordinary fate of young Dick Sand, a fifteen-year-old boy forced to take command of a ship after his captain goes missing. Across oceans, through storms, and into unknown lands, Jules Verne delivers a captivating coming-of-age tale in which courage, intelligence, and determination triumph over adversity.

The book is bound in its remarkable polychrome publisher’s cardboard cover featuring the “elephant in the cartouche” design, one of Hetzel’s most iconic decorative motifs. The rich gilding, geometric frames, and botanical motifs retain a particularly appealing freshness.

The copy offered here stands out for its excellent overall condition. The covers remain bright, the gilding is still brilliant, the spine remains perfectly legible, and the gilt edges have retained much of their original luster. The interior is exceptionally clean for this type of book, with paper that remains fresh and well-preserved illustrations. The binding is sturdy, and the volume as a whole displays remarkable uniformity.

Highly sought after by fans of Jules Verne and Hetzel bibliophilia, *Un Capitaine de quinze ans* remains one of the most beloved titles in the *Voyages Extraordinaires* series, combining maritime adventure, exoticism, and the literary qualities that have earned its author worldwide renown.

Hetzel Collection.
Illustrated polychrome cardboard binding known as “à l’éléphant.”
Illustrations within the text and as inserts.
In very fine condition.