Verne (jules). *les Indes-noires*. Paris: J. Hetzel Et Cie, N.d. (1877).

VERNE (Jules). Les Indes-Noires. Paris, J. Hetzel et Cie, n.d. (1877). Large 8vo (27.5 x 18.5 cm), 173 pages.

Beautifully illustrated with 45 drawings by Jules Férat, woodcut by Charles Barbant, including a frontispiece and superb vignettes at the beginning of each chapter. RARE FIRST PRINTING OF THE ORIGINAL EDITION IN ITS BLUE VARIANT. First-printing copy, complete with the valuable 8-page publisher’s “J” catalog at the end of the book, listing 17 volumes of the Extraordinary Journeys and announcing The Black Indies as a new release for the year 1877.

Binding: First-printing publisher’s cardboard binding, known as “with the initials JV / JH,” in full royal blue percaline. Binder’s signature plate Ch. Magnier at the bottom of the spine. Smooth spine richly decorated with gilded panels. Three edges gilt with gold leaf.

Condition:

• Exterior (Very Fine to Superb): A copy with a magnificently fresh appearance. The blue percaline, a particularly rare and sought-after color for this title (red being the most common), has retained its original luster and vibrancy, with no sun fading on the spine. The gilt plates on the front cover and spine have a superb sheen, offering a striking contrast against the royal blue background. Head and tail edges and corners are well-preserved, with minimal normal wear on the edges.
• Interior (Honorable): The text block is perfectly secure within its binding (with the exception of page 13, which is very slightly loose), and the blue-gray endpapers are intact. The paper exhibits scattered foxing on the inside, a common structural flaw in papers from the publisher Hetzel of that era, but one that in no way impairs the readability of the text or the impact of Férat’s magnificent engravings of the Aberfoyle mine.

The combination of Magnier’s “initials” plate—in the extremely rare royal blue color, which has retained its vividness—and the “J” catalog makes this copy a true find for Jules Verne collectors. A choice item, in excellent condition and entirely original, essential for completing the library of any discerning bibliophile.