Sax Rohmer “The Day the World Ended” First edition hardcover 1930

🔍 Sax Rohmer “The Day the World Ended” (Cassell, London, 1930) — A prime example of the Interwar Scientific Romance. This is a true first edition hardcover of a scarce thriller from the Gaston Max series, presenting a critical link in the evolution of the apocalyptic novel.

QUICK FACTS

• Author: Sax Rohmer (Arthur Henry Ward, 1883-1939), the architect of the Fu Manchu mythos and a pioneer of the scientific romance thriller.
• Publisher: Cassell & Company, London
• Year: 1930 (True First Edition, First Printing — explicitly stated “First Published 1930”)
• Format: Octavo hardcover in the characteristic dark blue cloth binding with gilt spine lettering.
• Provenance: Bears a tangible interwar ownership inscription “W. M. H. 3.2.31” on the half-title page, placing it in private hands within a year of release.
• Collector’s Grade: Good Plus to Very Good Minus — full report below.

THE STORY

“The Day the World Ended” is a gripping scientific romance that exemplifies Rohmer’s ability to fuse exotic adventure with apocalyptic peril. As part of the Gaston Max series, this novel follows the resourceful French detective as he confronts a mysterious threat to civilization. This work represents a vital transition in the genre, blending the occult intrigue of the 19th century with the scientific anxieties of the early 20th century, acting as a proto-science fiction narrative that prefigures the modern apocalypse subgenre.

THIS EDITION: INTERWAR ARCHIVAL STATE

This is the definitive first UK edition. The binding is the hallmark dark blue cloth (likely buckram) associated with Cassell’s premium fiction line of the 1930s. While the original pictorial dust jacket is exceptionally rare in the trade, the underlying cloth binding remains a handsome, sophisticated specimen of interwar publishing. The interior shows a natural, honest age-toning of the paper, with foxing that serves as a witness to the book’s nearly century-long history.

DESIGN & BINDING

The presentation is defined by elegant gilt lettering on the spine and a clean, professional cloth exterior. The gilt title “The Day the World Ended” and author name “Sax Rohmer” provide a classic spine profile typical of high-quality Cassell productions from this era. The lack of a jacket is common for this title, making the integrity of the original cloth binding the primary focus for the collector.

WHY IT MATTERS

• Series Scarcity: First editions of the Gaston Max series are significantly less common than Rohmer’s better-known Fu Manchu titles, making this a high-priority acquisition for the completist.
• Genre Significance: Represents Rohmer’s versatility beyond Orientalist adventure into the realm of speculative scientific romance.
• Tangible Provenance: The 1931 ownership annotation provides a direct, historical link to early Depression-era readership.
• Archival Integrity: Retains all the hallmarks of a Cassell first edition: quality cloth, gilt detailing, and a complete, solid text block.

FREQUENTLY ASKED

Is this a true first edition? Yes. This is the true first edition, first printing, published by Cassell & Co. London in 1930. The copyright page confirms “First Published 1930” and “Printed in Great Britain.”

What is the condition grade? Graded Good Plus to Very Good Minus: the text block is complete and firmly bound, with typical interwar age-toning and foxing. Corners are bumped and spine wear shows some fading to the gilt, consistent with an honest, read copy of this vintage.

Is it signed or inscribed? It bears a contemporary ownership inscription “W. M. H. 3.2.31” in ink on the half-title page, which is highly valued by provenance collectors as a record of early acquisition.

FOR COLLECTORS

This copy is a solid, honest example of a scarce interwar title. It serves as a curated specimen of 1930s adventure fiction, blending scientific speculation with classic pulp thrills. For the Rohmer specialist or the collector of early 20th-century scientific romance, this is a definitive addition that displays beautifully on the shelf.

See accompanying images for full condition details.

Will ship promptly, carefully packaged.

HFB-SEO-v1: 2026-10-15

1 in stock