Henry Crocker Marriott Watson

The Witch's Cavern - A Realistic and Thrilling Picture of London Society

Published anonymously in 1890 by Australian author and minister, Henry Crocker Marriott Watson, The Witch's Cavern is another dystopian work by the author of Erchomenon (1879). It depicts a far future in which England has devolved into a primitive and barbarous land. The story's protagonist goes on an expedition  to London of 2990 and while there finds himself transported back in time to 19th century London. There he witnesses firsthand the seeds to England's collapse from Socialism to the loss of Christian and moral values. The author's previous work also explored similar themes of social collapse due to a lack of religion. 

The book was published the same year in the UK as The Decline and Fall of the British Empire; or, The Witch's Cavern by Anonymous. According to L. W. Currey, no copies of the UK edition other than ones with the words "two thousand" printed on the title page have been located. This Minerva U.S. edition is extremely rare, much more so than the UK edition.

Hardcover. First Edition. Octavo, bound in pictorial light gray-green cloth, front panel stamped in black, spine panel stamped in black and silver [LWC]. New York: The Minerva Publishing Company, 1890. #11150.
Early owner's name and address in pencil on the front free endpaper. Cloth is worn at spine ends and corner tips, toning to pages, partial hairline crack along inner front hinge but still quite sound. A bright, very good copy overall. Very nice for what appears to be a cheaply made book.