Partly autobiographical
The "research magnificent" of the title appears to be protagonist Benham's lifelong search for wisdom or study of how to be noble.
--gleaned from Wikipedia
- 1st ed., 2nd printing ("Second Edition" in newspapers), same month as the 1st printing
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HathiTrust Digital Library provides full view of one copy including original cover:
-- front cover gold-stamped lettering on red cloth
-- copyright page states "Published September, 1915." and "Reprinted September, 1915."
-- Contents, page v, displays that roman numeral §
-- text spans p3-460
-- publisher advertisements, p[463-71] §
§ Contrast the 1922 New York edition, and the 1915 London (1st UK), also available at HathiTrust.
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From notices in US newspapers:
Price $1.50 is stated in publisher advertisements as of weekends -09-18/19 and -09-25/26 (1st printing certainly and presumably). Advertisements next weekend -10-02/03 state "Second Edition Now Ready", no price.
December notices from the publisher state "Fifth Edition Now Ready" (no price), while some retailers list the original price $1.50 (no edition/printing).
