Raffles and the Golden Opportunity, 1781-1826

First edition, first impression.  xviii, 348pp, with two sections of plate illustrations and occasional illustrations in text.  Black cloth-covered boards with gilt lettering to spine. Jet black endpapers. 8vo.  Cloth very slightly rounded at spine ends.  Some mild toning to text block edges and pages.  The bookplate of Lord Carrington appears on the front free endpaper, else internally neat and clean and tight.  In its original illustrated dust jacket, not price clipped.  Dust wrapper now protected in an archival-quality Mylar sleeve, fitted without the use of tape or adhesives.

Biography of Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles, founder of Singapore: highly strung, charming, ambitious, whose semi-mythical legacy association with luxury and high living does not match with his at times tragic and ultimately short life.  While Sir Thomas Raffles was not beyond underhand dealing – largely stole the credit from his second in command for the establishment of Singapore, he is not be confused with the fictional character created by E W Hornung in the late 19th century, A J Raffles – the charming, upper class man of disguise and deception.