The Jungle Book [with] The Second Jungle Book.

The Jungle Book is a 'collection of stories... published in 1894. The Second Jungle Book, published in 1895, contains stories linked by poems. The stories tell mostly of Mowgli, an Indian boy who is raised by wolves from infancy and who learns self-sufficiency and wisdom from the jungle animals. The book describes the social life of the wolf pack and, more fancifully, the justice and natural order of life in the jungle. Among the animals whose tales are related in the work are Akela the wolf; Baloo the brown bear; Shere Khan, the boastful Bengal tiger who is Mowgli's enemy; Kaa the python; Bagheera the panther; and Rikki-tikki-tavi the mongoose.' (Merriam-Webster's Encyclopaedia of Literature).

First editions, 2 volumes; 8vo (195 x135 mm); [2, blank], vi, [2, contents], 212pp., frontispiece and 42 illustrations including 19 full-page; [2, blank], [6], 238, [2, publisher's advertisements] pp., 39 text illustrations, including head-and tail-piece vignettes and historiated initials; publisher's dark grey/green coated endpapers; Second Jungle Book with light spotting, mostly to prelims but occasionally elsewhere, otherwise both internally very good; both volumes in publisher's blue cloth, decoratively ruled and pictorially stamped in gilt on front covers and spines and lettered in gilt on spines, all edges gilt, slight rubbing to spine ends and tips, otherwise a near-fine set.

Livingston 104 & 116