The Phantom of the Opera – Gaston Leroux – 1925 | Photoplay Edition with Lon Chaney

This 1925 silent film edition of The Phantom of the Opera by Gaston Leroux tells the story of a horrifically disfigured man who lives beneath the Paris Opera House falling obsessively in love with Christine, a young opera singer. This novel is styled as a Gothic horror, with the Phantom descending into increasingly mad and violent tactics to gain Christine’s love, combined with elements of the mystery and romance genres. The text is accompanied by photographic plates from the 1925 Universal Pictures movie starring Lon Chaney and was issued by Grosset & Dunlap during the height of the film’s popularity. This edition presents an early example of the photoplay format, which combined classic fiction with the expanding American interest in cinema and the horror genre.

Bibliographic Details

• Title: The Phantom of the Opera
• Author: Gaston Leroux
• Illustrator: Andre Castaigne
• Publisher: Grosset & Dunlap, New York
• Edition: Photoplay edition, c. 1925
  • Uses sheets from 1911 Bobbs-Merrill printing
• Binding: Original red cloth, with facsimile dust jacket
• Format: Octavo (8vo), single volume
• Size: ~ 7.75 in × 5.25 in (19.5 cm × 13 cm)
• Collation: [8], 357, [3] pp.
• Illustrations: 6 plates; 4 black-and-white photo plates from the Universal Pictures film, 2 double-page color illustrations
• Contents Include:
  • Complete English translation of Leroux’s novel
  • Photographic scenes from the 1925 film adaptation

Condition:

Good condition. The original red cloth is somewhat faded, with moderate fraying on the edges, corners, and hinges, and mild staining on the front board. Hinges are tight and secure, and the text block is intact. The pages are clean, if lightly age-toned.

Why Collect This?

• Early photoplay edition incorporating stills from Universal’s 1925 silent film starring Lon Chaney
• Reflects early 20th-century visual media crossover with print format
• Suitable for collectors focused on silent film, horror fiction, or cinematic memorabilia

Item Number: #31101