Jack London. 
 
The Century Co: 1902. First edition. Hardcover with an acetate jacket in a clam shell box. Octavo. A couple of splashes of water damage on the cover of the clam shell box. Corners of the boards are frayed and a little exposed. There is a repaired, small gash along the hinge of the front of the board and the spine at the top. Spine is faded, and there is shelf wear on the heel and the crown. Smudges on the back board. Ex libris paste down sticker on the attached end paper with a corresponding impression on the free end paper. Attached end papers are chipped in the corners. Evidence of repair on the gutters between the text block and the boards. Smudges and spots on the preliminary leaves. Small tear on the List of Illustrations page. An old fold on the corner of a few of the pages throughout. Wrinkle on the last free endpaper. Text is quite clean. 250 pages. Good. 
 
An early novel of the author's and a great looking first edition. Of particular interest for the aficionado because it begins in London's home city of San Francisco. The young narrator gets involved with sailors living outside the law, as London did. The classic combination of authentic adventure and the anguish of a young man's search are both here, ready to be cherished by the collector and fan. 
 
"They ran across the shining sand, the Pacific thundering its long surge at their backs."