[KIPLING, Rudyard]. The Jungle Book; [together with] -- The Second Jungle Book. London: Macmillan and Co., 1894 & 1895.
First editions in book form, first printings of both volumes. Two leather-bound volumes with leather-tipped slipcase; hardcovers; octavos (19cm x 12.5cm); pp. vi, [2], 212; [6], 238, [2] ads. English text with illustrations throughout. Uniformly bound by Birdsall in stunning full navy blue morocco gilt; five raised spine bands; gilt ruled and tooled compartments; titles in gilt to the spines; gilt decorated board edges; elaborate gilt inner dentelles; all page edges gilt; marbled endpapers; half-titles present; publisher's original cloth bound in at the rear of each volume. 'The Jungle Book' with an engraved frontispiece by William Henry Drake (complete with tissue guard as issued) and many illustrations throughout the text by the author's father John Lockwood Kipling, William Henry Drake and Paul Frenzeny. 'The Second Jungle Book' with numerous illustrations throughout the text by John Lockwood Kipling and a single leaf of publisher's advertisements at the rear. Condition: FINE. An immaculate set, the bindings square and tight, without fading or wear. The contents are clean and bright throughout, without foxing or previous owner inscriptions. Both volumes are housed in a blue cloth and morocco-tipped slipcase.
Notes: UK first editions, first impressions, published by Macmillan - a superb fine set of this cornerstone of children's literature, charting the adventures of the "man-cub" Mowgli and his jungle-dwelling friends. Beautifully and uniformly bound in full morocco gilt by Birdsall.
