A very scarce first edition of The Story of the Gadsbys, part of the legendary Indian Railway Library series, issued as No. 2 in 1888. Published by A.H. Wheeler & Co. in Allahabad, these slim, ephemeral volumes were sold for just one rupee and aimed at British passengers traveling by rail across colonial India.
Uniquely blending prose and verse in a “dialogue-drama” format, this title stands apart from Kipling’s more traditional short fiction. It follows the emotional entanglements and social maneuverings of British colonial officers and their families, set against the charged backdrop of the Raj.
This edition features its original fragile wrappers, with the distinctive pictorial cover illustration depicting a romantic encounter beneath the Himalayan foothills — a particularly evocative and rare survival.
One of Kipling’s earliest published works, The Story of the Gadsbys helped cement his reputation throughout the British Empire. The Indian Railway Library series holds a special place in publishing history, prized today for its literary and colonial significance.
