Hand-corrected typed manuscript for Rudyard Kipling's story "The King's Ankus," one of the Mowgli stories in The Second Jungle Book, 24 pages, 8 x 10.5, signed at the head in ink by Kipling, "For Australia, India…only, To be pub. on or after March 1, 1895, R. K." The author makes extensive corrections and emendations in ink throughout, with a few blue crayon and pencil edits made in other hands. The printed version reflects numerous verbal changes from the present typescript, including the restoration of some readings here deleted and the addition of a lengthy passage in the second page. In overall fine condition. Housed in a gorgeous custom-made blue morocco case, with gilt-stamped title and cobra device on the front.
“The King’s Ankus” is a short story from Rudyard Kipling’s Jungle Book series that follows Mowgli after he discovers an ancient treasure chamber guarded by a white cobra. Among the relics is a ceremonial elephant goad—the king’s ankus—which Mowgli takes at first but quickly discards after learning it carries a dark history. As the ankus passes from hand to hand, greed drives several humans to murder each other for its possession, highlighting the corrupting power of wealth and Mowgli’s fundamental difference from human society. The story blends adventure with a moral lesson about desire and violence in the human world. According to Kipling biographer Angus Wilson, the story is 'the crown jewel of the two [Jungle] books…Kipling's best use of myth in all his work.'
