Albert Robida’s Le Vingtième siècle
While preparing material for an upcoming session of the Honours course “Print Culture in Britain, 1750-1900”, taught by Aileen Fyfe, our Rare Books Librarian, Elizabeth Henderson, pulled out a copy of this beautifully illustrated 19th century science fiction novel. I saw this sitting on her desk, had a flip through it, and had to share some of these images.
Le Vingtième siècle (Paris: G. Decaux, 1883), by Albert Robida, is a novel set in the mid-20th century in which new technology has changed French society. Some of the new technology includes the modern equivalents of televisions, telephones, web-cams, submarines, helicopters, &c. This novel was the first of three futuristic works, the other two were: La Guerre au vingtième siècle (1887) and Le Vingtième siècle. La vie électrique (1890). This first edition features cover art and illustrations by Robida, who was a prolific illustrator of science fiction novels and magazines in the 19th century.
–DG
[...] I was searching through the stacks last week, hot on the case of Albert Robida, I stumbled upon this beautiful, and large, edition of Tennyson’s Idylls of the King. This first [...]
These beautiful illustrations and the luxurious details of the cover binding are very well chosen. I believe they say a lot about the book. LE VINGTIÈME SIÈCLE was first published in December 1882 making it a perfect LIVRE D'ETRENNES. Those are books - often quite beautifully produced - which were given to friends and family as a gift on new year's day.
I have a Copy of the XX Secolo by A. Robida 1885. How valuable, it is not the First Edition but not far off, abit wormy,but the Lithographs and Prints are beautiful. A.P.
Hi Alfred, If your copy says 1885 it should be the first Italian edition. I have seen ordinary copies of that edition for EUR 150 and beautiful editions for the same price. Good luck!