The Merry Men And Other Tales And Fables. Stevenson, Robert Louis First Edition

First edition of this collection of stories. Octavo, original blue cloth with gilt titles to the spine, decoratively stamped with florals and stars in black and silver to the front panel and spine, floral endpapers, thirty-two pages of publisher's advertisements dated September 1886. Signed by Robert Louis Stevenson on the title page. In very good condition with some rubbing to the extremities and a few closed tears to the top edge of the text block. Bookseller relief to the front free endpaper, ownership initial to the half title page, and bookplate to the front pastedown from the library of Herbert John Gladstone. The youngest son of Prime Minister William Ewart Gladstone, Herbert John Gladstone himself was a British Liberal politician, responsible for keeping his party from splitting during the Second Boer War and for instituting legal protections in aid of the working class. Rare and desirable signed. Robert Louis Stevenson was a Scottish novelist, poet, and essayist best known for his works 'Treasure Island' and 'Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.' An admirable writer in both adult and children's literature, it is no wonder how Stevenson became the 26th most translated writer in the world. 'The Merry Men' is a collection of Stevenson's short stories of adventure, originally published in literary journals and magazines. The title derives its name from a series of dangerous waves featured in the title short story.