Rudyard Kipling - The Light That Failed - 1891

RUDYARD KIPLING - The Light That Failed - FIRST EDITION, FIRST STATE – 1891 - with documented Victorian medical provenance
Rare First English Edition with Original Tragic Ending
Author: Rudyard Kipling
Title: The Light That Failed
Publisher: Macmillan and Co., London and New York
Year: 1891
Edition: First English Edition, First State (with original unhappy ending)
Description
A collectible first edition, first state copy of Rudyard Kipling's powerful novel "The Light That Failed," published by Macmillan in 1891. This is the scarce and desirable first state featuring Kipling's original tragic ending, in which the protagonist Dick Heldar dies in battle after going blind - the version Kipling intended before publisher pressure led to a revised happy ending in the second state.
Binding & Condition
• Original blue cloth binding with gilt decoration
• Ornate gilt scrollwork border on spine and covers
• Publisher's emblem embossed on front cover
• Some wear to spine edges with fraying, consistent with age
• Gilt remains visible though showing natural dulling
• Binding structurally sound with slight cocking to spine (minor lean when freestanding,
sits properly when shelved) - typical for age
Text Block
• Complete with all pages present and intact
• Text pages clean and readable throughout
• Preface present stating "This is the story of The Light that Failed as it was originally
conceived by the Writer. Rudyard Kipling."
• Opens with verse from "Big Barn Stories"
• Minor tears to publisher's catalog pages at rear (common for period)
• No missing text pages

Provenance
Early ownership stamp in purple ink on half-title page: "Charles Baly, 140, Harley Street, W"
Charles Baly (1846-1925) was a dental surgeon practicing at one of London's most prestigious medical addresses. This provenance adds considerable historical interest to the volume:
About the Original Owner
• Charles Baly was a prominent Victorian dental surgeon with offices at 140 Harley Street, Marylebone
• Born 1846 in Birmingham; died May 16, 1925 (aged 79)
• Married in 1869; had at least two sons, including Charles Francis Preston Baly (b. 1871)
• At the time this book was published (1891), Baly was approximately 45 years old and
well-established in his practice
• He acquired this book shortly after its original publication, making this a contemporary
ownership from the book's first release
About 140 Harley Street
• Then and now one of London's most prestigious medical addresses in Marylebone
• Known worldwide for its concentration of medical specialists since the Victorian era
• In the 1890s, Harley Street was transitioning from wealthy residential to predominantly
medical/dental practices
• The building still stands today as a Grade II listed Georgian terraced property
The Baly Medical Family
Charles Baly was connected to the prominent Baly medical dynasty. The most distinguished member was Dr. William Baly (1814-1861), who served as:
• Physician to Queen Victoria and the Royal Family (1859)
• Fellow of the Royal Society
• Physician at St. Bartholomew's Hospital
• Today commemorated by the prestigious Baly Medal in Physiology awarded by the
Royal College of Physicians
The purple/violet ink ownership stamp was typical of Victorian and Edwardian-era professionals and book collectors. This marking confirms the book's authentic period provenance and places it in the library of an educated, prosperous Victorian medical professional.

Historical Significance
This first state is the more valuable and sought-after version among Kipling collectors. The original ending, where Dick is shot in the head after insisting on being placed in the line of battle, represents Kipling's uncompromising artistic vision. The second state with its happier, romantic ending was published later in 1891 after initial criticism of the book's darkness.
The novel explores themes of artistic integrity, love, and loss, and is considered an important work in Kipling's early career, published when he was establishing himself as a major literary voice.
Condition Grade Good to Very Good (for age)
• Natural wear consistent with 133-year-old volume
• Text block excellent
• Binding honest and original
• No restoration
Ideal For
• Kipling collectors seeking first editions
• Victorian literature collections
• Collectors of 19th-century first editions with documented provenance
• Those interested in literary history and editorial changes
• Medical history enthusiasts interested in Harley Street's golden age
A solid, authentic copy of an important Kipling first edition with the desirable first state ending and fascinating provenance linking it to Victorian London's medical establishment. Perfect for the serious collector or institutional library.

Format: Octavo (8vo)
Dimensions: 8 x 5.5 inches
Weight: 14 ounces
Pages: 339pp + publisher's catalog