Cabbages and Kings O. Henry 1905 Third Impression Decorative Cloth
 
Title & Bibliographic Details
 
Title: Cabbages and Kings
Author: O. Henry
Publisher: McClure, Phillips & Co., New York
Date: 1905
Edition: Third Impression
Copyright Date: 1904
Publication Statement: “Published, November, 1904”
 
This early impression of Cabbages and Kings by O. Henry was published shortly after the first edition of 1904 and remains one of the author’s most celebrated early works.
 
Historical & Bibliographic Context
 
Cabbages and Kings is particularly significant in O. Henry’s bibliography as the work in which the phrase “banana republic” first appeared in print. Set in the fictional Central American country of Anchuria, the interconnected stories combine satire, political intrigue, romance, humour, and adventure in the distinctive style that made O. Henry internationally famous.
 
The work helped establish O. Henry as one of the great American short story writers of the early twentieth century. Its vivid episodic structure and sharply observed characters remain highly regarded by collectors of classic American literature.
 
Early McClure, Phillips editions in their original decorative cloth bindings are increasingly desirable, particularly when retaining strong colour and sound structure.
 
About the Author
 
O. Henry was an American author best known for witty short stories with unexpected endings.
 
Binding & Exterior Description
 
The boards and spine are bound in dark cloth with striking orange, green, cream, and black decorative illustrations to the front board together with black and orange lettering on the spine.
 
The cover is intact and robust and remains in a good antiquarian condition for its age. There is light wear including very soft bumping to the corners, small patches of light rubbing, very small or light marks, very light scratches, and light fading to the spine.
 
An attractive and highly decorative early twentieth-century publisher’s binding with strong shelf appeal.
 
No dust jacket included.
 
Interior Condition
 
The pages are only very lightly tanned. The lower page edges remain roughly cut, likely opened with a paper knife, which was common practice for books of this period originally issued with untrimmed edges.
 
There are remnants of pencil on the front free endpaper, but no further pen or pencil inscriptions inside the book.
 
The pages are overall very neat and clean for their age and predominantly uncreased. 
 
There are only the very occasional very small or light marks which do not affect the text. 
 
There are no significant rips to the pages, only the occasional very small edge or inner margin tear which is minimal and does not affect readability.
 
All 344 pages are present and accounted for. The pages are secure throughout, with only a couple of very light gutter cracks between pages.
 
Physical Details
 
Pagination: 344 pages 
Dimensions: Approximately 19.7 x 13.5 x 3.1 cm 
Weight: Approximately 623g 
 
Rarity & Collector Notes
 
This early McClure, Phillips impression is now uncommon in original decorative cloth condition.
 
While not a true first impression, early printings of Cabbages and Kings remain sought after due to:
the importance of the title in American literature, 
the first appearance of the phrase “banana republic,” 
the attractive illustrated publisher’s binding, 
and the enduring popularity of O. Henry among collectors. 
 
Examples in original cloth without major damage or library markings are becoming increasingly harder to source in the antiquarian market