"Around the World in 80 Days" by Jules Verne, illustrations by Joseph Ciardiello, Afterword by Jack Sullivan, published by The World's Best Reading, Pleasantville, NY, 1988. First edition for the illustrations.

Hard boards, pale-green cloth boards, faux leather spine, gold lettering on front board and spine; 6.1/4" x 9.1/2"; 205 pages, fine condition.

The technological innovations of the 19th century had opened the possibility of rapid circumnavigation and the prospect fascinated Jules Verne. In particular three technological breakthroughs occurred in 1869-70 that made a tourist-like around-the-world journey possible for the first time: the completion of the First Transcontinental Railroad in America (1869), the linking of the Indian railways across the sub-continent (1870), and the opening of the Suez Canal (1869).

Joe Ciardiello (born 1953) is an American illustrator. He works primarily in pen and ink on water color paper and is best known for his work as a portrait artist and illustrator for clients such as American Express, Barnes & Noble, Capitol Records, The Folio Society, The New Yorker, The New York Times Book Review, The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Rolling Stone, Smithsonian and Time. He has received awards from the Society of Illustrators. In 1999, Ciardiello had a one-man exhibition of his works at the Museum of American Illustration, which is housed by the Society of Illustrators, New York City. In 2016, Ciardiello won the Hamilton King Award, which is the highest award the Society of Illustrators can bestow to a member.

US: Priority (c.2-6 days) ----------- $12.50
Canada: 1st Class (c.2-7 weeks) ----- $30.50
World: 1st Class (c.2-10 weeks) ----- $40.50