Dracula's Guest and Other Weird Stories by Stoker, Bram - 1914

London: George Routledge & Sons, 1914. First edition of this posthumous short story collection assembled by Bram Stoker's widow, who claims in the preface that "Dracula's Guest" is a "hitherto unpublished episode from 'Dracula' . . . originally excised owing to the length of the book." That origin story remained unchallenged for years: "Dracula's Guest" was even reprinted in an edition of Dracula, restored to its assumed place. The discovery of Stoker's original manuscript of Dracula in 1984 called into question the lost chapter theory, and there remains no consensus on whether he intended "Dracula's Guest" to be included in the novel. The story describes the narrator's encounter with a mysterious "wolf - and yet not a wolf!" on Walpurgis Night, "when, according to the belief of millions of people, the devil was abroad - when the graves were opened and the dead came forth and walked. When all evil things of earth and air and water held revel." The first state of the dust jacket, while recorded, is exceptionally rare; this second state jacket, priced at "2/-" is also elusive. Bleiler 1551; Dalby 22a. An attractive copy of a controversial work of horror fiction. Single volume, measuring 7.25 x 4.75 inches: [viii], 200. Original scarlet cloth, upper board and spine stamped in blind, gilt titling to spine, original unclipped color pictorial dust jacket (second state). Ink ownership signature and library stamp to front free endpaper. Lower edge of front board faded, scattered foxing, expert restoration to jacket.