The Writings of Mark Twain.

TWAIN, Mark. [Samuel Clemens].

$3,800.00

Item Number: 138944

Hartford, Connecticut: The American Publishing Company, 1899-1907.

The Royal edition of the writings of Mark Twain. Octavo, 21 volumes of the original 25 bound in three quarter crushed levant morocco over marbled boards for Brentano’s  with gilt titles and tooling to the spine in six compartments within raised gilt bands, marbled endpapers, top edge gilt, illustrated with many full-page illustrations, including etchings, photogravures, and engravings, with numerous frontispiece portraits of Twain. One of an unstated number of copies of the Royal edition, this is number 287. In near fine condition.

"To understand America, read Mark Twain. No matter what new craziness pops up in America, I find it described beforehand by him He was never innocent, at home or abroad" (Garry Wills). "High and fine literature is wine," Twain once wrote, "and mine is only water; but everybody likes water." This beautiful edition of Twain's complete novels, essays and sketches attests to the enduring popularity and power of his works—many of which, despite their author's protestation to the contrary, have come to be regarded as among the finest vintage American literature offers.