A finely printed private press edition of Frankenstein, Mary Shelley’s landmark Gothic novel and one of the defining works of early science fiction.

First published anonymously in London in 1818, Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus remains among the most influential literary works of the nineteenth century. Its story of Victor Frankenstein—a young scientist whose attempt to create life leads to catastrophe—has become one of the enduring myths of modern culture, inspiring countless adaptations in literature, theatre, film, and visual art.

Written when Mary Shelley was only eighteen, the novel emerged from the well-known ghost-story challenge of 1816 at Villa Diodati, where she stayed with Percy Bysshe Shelley, Lord Byron, and John Polidori. During that storm-bound summer—later remembered as the “Year Without a Summer” following the eruption of Mount Tambora—Shelley conceived a work that combined Gothic imagination with philosophical and scientific inquiry.

The novel draws upon early nineteenth-century fascination with galvanism and the possibility of reanimating life. More than two centuries after publication, Frankenstein continues to resonate as a meditation on creation, responsibility, alienation, and the limits of human knowledge.

The first edition was issued in the customary three-volume format and consisted of only 500 copies. A revised edition published in 1831, accompanied by Shelley’s account of the novel’s origins, helped secure its lasting place in the literary canon.

Published by Woodbank Press in Warsaw in 2022, this edition is issued in three octavo volumes (215 × 138 mm). The text is set in Brunel Text No. 2, a typeface derived from late eighteenth-century letterforms whose restrained neoclassical character places it naturally within the typographic traditions of the Georgian and Regency period.

The sheets were printed on Century Laid cotton paper, chosen for its tactile surface and subtle laid texture. The edition is limited to 25 hand-numbered copies. Each set is hand-bound in full leather using traditional techniques, with gilt page edges, and housed in a custom-made slipcase.

The restrained typographic design, balanced proportions, and traditional materials reflect the principles of the modern private press movement while acknowledging the traditions of British bookmaking of the late Georgian and Regency periods.

Issued in a strictly limited edition, this work was conceived for collectors of fine press books, Gothic literature, and nineteenth-century printing.

Edition limited to 25 numbered copies. Three volumes, octavo (215 × 138 mm). Set in Brunel Text No. 2 and printed on Century Laid cotton paper. Hand-bound in full leather with gilt edges and housed in a custom-made slipcase. Published by Woodbank Press, Warsaw, 2022.