Mark Twain First Edition
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MARK TWAIN'S (BURLESQUE) AUTOBIOGRAPHY AND FIRST ROMANCE
TWAIN, Mark. [Samuel L. Clemens].
Mark Twain’s (Burlesque) Autobiography and First Romance.
New York: Sheldon & Company, n.d.
First edition, second issue of Twain's third book with the Ball, Black, & Co. advertisement on verso of the title page (BAL 3326). Octavo, bound in three quarters morocco over marbled boards, gilt titles to the spine, illustrated and extra-illustrated with a tissue-guarded engraved frontispiece of Twain. In good condition.
Price: $200.00 Item Number: 138264
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First edition, first issue of Mark Twain's King Leopold's Soliloquy: A Defense of His Congo Rule
TWAIN, Mark [Samuel L. Clemens].
King Leopold’s Soliloquy: A Defense of His Congo Rule.
1905: The P. R. Warren Co, Boston, Massachusetts.
First edition, first issue of Twain's work of political satire harshly condemning King Leopold's rule over the Congo Free State. Small octavo, original wrappers as issued. In very good condition. Housed in a custom cloth and chemise case with a second edition third printing of the pamphlet which contains the publisher's later advisory, "The publishers desire to state that Mr. Clemens declines to accept any pecuniary return from this booklet, as it is his wish that all proceeds of sales above the cost of publication shall be used in furthering the effort for relief of the people of the Congo State.…
Price: $2,000.00 Item Number: 95339
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Rare unauthorized edition of Mark Twain's Autobiography (Burlesque) First Romance, and Memoranda
TWAIN, Mark. [Samuel L. Clemens].
Autobiography (Burlesque) First Romance, and Memoranda.
Toronto: James Campbell & Son, [1871].
Rare unauthorized edition of Twain's witty collection of satirical sketches; this edition possibly containing the first appearance of My Late Senatorial Secretaryship. BAL 3334. Octavo, original publisher's cloth. In very good condition. Rare.
Price: $375.00 Item Number: 137267
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Rare First Edition, First Printing of Mark Twain's The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County, and Other Sketches
TWAIN, Mark [Samuel L. Clemens].
The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County, and Other Sketches.
New York: C.H. Webb, 1867.
First edition, first printing of the author's rare first book. Octavo, original cloth, first issue lacking the leaf of ads facing the title page but with unbroken type on pages 21, 66 and 198. In very good condition with light wear to the extremities. A sharp example.
Price: $18,500.00 Item Number: 125145
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First edition of Mark Twain's Innocents Abroad
TWAIN, Mark .
The Innocents Abroad, Or The New Pilgrims’ Progress.
Hartford: American Publishing Company, 1869.
First edition, third state of the author's second book with "The History of the Bible advertisement on page 654. BAL 3316. Octavo, bound in three quarter morocco with gilt titles and tooling to the spine in six compartments within raised gilt bands, top edge gilt, marbled endpapers, with two hundred and thirty-four illustrations. From the library of Tiffany Thayer with his bookplate to the pastedown. American actor Tiffany Ellsworth Thayer wrote several novels, including the bestseller Thirteen Women. In a profile in Twentieth Century Authors, Thayer was described as "an atheist, an anarchist – in philosophy a Pyrrhonean – and…
Price: $1,500.00 Item Number: 127837
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“I AM NOT GIVEN TO EXAGGERATION, AND WHEN I SAY A THING I MEAN IT”: FIRST EDITION OF MARK TWAIN'S ROUGHING IT; from the library of American journalist William Safire
TWAIN, Mark [Samuel L. Clemens].
Roughing It.
Hartford, Connecticut: American Publishing Company, 1872.
First edition, mixed state of Twain's first semi-autobiographical work of travel literature, essentially a prequel to The Innocents Abroad, lacking the word 'he' on page 242 but with the advert present on page 592 (BAL 3337). Octavo, bound in three quarter morocco with gilt titles and tooling to the spine in six compartments within raised gilt bands, marbled endpapers, top edge gilt, fully illustrated by eminent artists with wood engravings throughout. From the library of William Safire with his bookplate to the pastedown. William Safire was an important American author, columnist, journalist, and presidential speechwriter. He joined Nixon’s campaign for…
Price: $1,200.00 Item Number: 127994
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Exceptionally rare first English edition of Mark Twain's The Gilded Age
TWAIN, Mark and Charles Dudley Warner. [Samuel L. Clemens].
The Gilded Age: A Novel.
London: George Routledge and Sons, 1874.
First English edition of the rarest of Mark Twain's works: the only novel he wrote with a collaborator and the book that gave the era its name in history. Octavo, three volumes, original publishers green cloth, gilt titles to the spine, illustrated. The only multi-volume work Clemens produced, except for the two-volume Tramp Abroad (London, 1880), the first English edition of The Gilded Age is the rarest of Mark Twain's major works and the most difficult to obtain. Its rarity is due largely to its format, three volume sets were quite expensive and were produced almost solely for circulating libraries…
Price: $65,000.00 Item Number: 133018
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First edition of The Innocents Abroad; inscribed by Mark Twain to Mrs. P. T. Barnum
TWAIN, Mark. [Samuel L. Clemens].
The Innocents Abroad, Or The New Pilgrims’ Progress.
Hartford: American Publishing Company, 1874.
First edition, second issue of the author’s second book, one of the best-selling travel books of all-time. Octavo, bound in three quarter morocco with gilt titles to the spine, marbled endpapers, all edges marbled, with two hundred and thirty-four illustrations. Association copy, inscribed by Mark Twain on the fly-leaf, "To Mrs. P. T. Barnum from Yours Truly Samuel L. Clemens Mark Twain Oct 1875." The recipient, Nancy Fish, was the second wife of American showman P. T. Barnum. Twain and Barnum were, by various accounts, friends, mutual admirers and rivals. After visiting Barnum's American Business Museum in New York City…
Price: $35,000.00 Item Number: 133104
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FIRST EDITION OF ONE OF THE MASTERPIECES OF AMERICAN LITERATURE, MARK TWAIN'S THE ADVENTURES OF TOM SAWYER
TWAIN, Mark [Samuel L. Clemens].
The Adventures of Tom Sawyer.
Hartford: American Publishing Company, 1876.
First edition, first printing, mixed state of the apotheosis of American boyhood. Octavo, bound in three quarters morocco over cloth, gilt topstain. In near fine condition with half-title and frontispiece on the same leaf, with 1875 on the copyright page and 1876 on the title page, and with the 10-point type to the word "THE" on the half-title page, four page publishers advertisements at end. Housed in a custom half morocco clamshell chemise and box.
Price: $8,200.00 Item Number: 119453
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"NONE GENUINE WITHOUT THIS LABEL ON THE BATTLE": Mark Twain's Punch, Brothers, Punch! And Other Sketches; from the library of American journalist William Safire
TWAIN, Mark. [Samuel L. Clemens].
Punch, Brothers, Punch! And Other Sketches by Mark Twain.
New York: Slote, Woodman & Co., 1878.
First edition, second issue of Twain's collection of short stories with the author's name in facsimile autograph, undecorated cream end-papers, and second state scrap book illustration to the rear paste down. BAL 3378. Small octavo, original green cloth stamped in black with gilt titles to the spine. From the library of William Safire with his bookplate to the pastedown. William Safire was an important American author, columnist, journalist, and presidential speechwriter. He joined Nixon’s campaign for the 1960 Presidential race, and again in 1968. After Nixon’s 1968 victory, Safire served as a speechwriter for him and Spiro Agnew. He authored…
Price: $475.00 Item Number: 127364
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Mark Twain's The Gilded Age: A Tale of To-Day; from the library of Arthur Balfour's younger brother Cecil Balfour and subsequently American journalist William Safire
TWAIN, Mark [Samuel Clemens] and Charles Dudley Warner.
The Gilded Age: A Tale of To-Day.
Hartford: American Publishing Company, 1878.
Early printing of Twain and Dudley's satirical work on greed and political corruption in post-Civil War America which has appeared in more than 100 editions since its original publication. Octavo, bound in three quarter morocco with gilt titles and tooling to the spine in six compartments within raised gilt bands, marbled endpapers, all edges marbled, fully illustrated from new designs by Hoppins, Stephens, Williams, White, et al. In very good condition. Bound for and from the library of Cecil C. Balfour, the younger brother of Arthur Balfour. British Conservative statesman Arthur Balfour served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom…
Price: $750.00 Item Number: 127448
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"Like wind we come, like waves we go": First American edition of the Rubáiyát of Omar Khayyám; from the library of Samuel Clemens with his ownership and gift inscriptions
OMAR KHAYYáM. [SAMUEL L. CLEMENS I.E. MARK TWAIN],.
Rubáiyát of Omar Khayyám, the Astronomer-Poet of Persia.
Boston: James R. Osgood and Company, 1878.
First American edition of the Rubáiyát of Omar Khayyám from the library of Samuel Clemens. Octavo, original decorated cloth with gilt titles to the spine and front panel. From the library of Samuel Clemens with his ownership signature and presentation inscription to the front free endpaper, "SL Clemens Hartford 1878" and "Transferred to Miss Henry G. Brooks with the kindest regards of S.L. Clemens May 1884." With scribbles and hash-marks in pencil to blank margins, presumably in Twain's hand, similar to the annotated ninth edition at the Mark Twain Archive, Elmira College. In very good condition with loss to the…
Price: $15,000.00 Item Number: 123424
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"WE WENT SLIPPING SILENTLY ALONG, BETWEEN THE GREEN AND FRAGRANT BANKS, WITH A SENSE OF PLEASURE AND CONTENTMENT THAT GREW AND GREW": FIRST EDITION OF MARK TWAIN'S A TRAMP ABROAD
TWAIN, Mark. [Samuel L. Clemens].
A Tramp Abroad.
Hartford, Conn.: American Publishing Company, 1880.
First edition, first state of Twain's classic fictionalized account of his walking tour of central and southern Europe. Octavo, original publisher's pictorial gilt-stamped brown cloth, with 328 illustrations by Walter Francis Brown, True Williams, W.W. Denslow, and with four 'pictures made by the author of this book, without outside help' with the first state frontispiece captioned “Moses” and state A of the text-block. BAL 3386. In fine condition. Small bookplate and ownership name. Housed in a custom slipcase. An exceptional example of this American classic, easily the nicest we have seen.
Price: $5,000.00 Item Number: 136080
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"WE WENT SLIPPING SILENTLY ALONG, BETWEEN THE GREEN AND FRAGRANT BANKS, WITH A SENSE OF PLEASURE AND CONTENTMENT THAT GREW AND GREW": FIRST EDITION OF MARK TWAIN'S A TRAMP ABROAD
TWAIN, Mark. [Samuel L. Clemens].
A Tramp Abroad.
Hartford, Conn.: American Publishing Company, 1880.
First edition of Twain's classic fictionalized account of his walking tour of central and southern Europe, early issue with the portrait in BAL state B (no priority), frontispiece in the first state (captioned "Moses"), state A of the text block (no priority), and the cover stamping in state A. Octavo. 631, [1, ad] pages. Octavo, original publisher's pictorial gilt-stamped brown cloth, with 328 illustrations by Walter Francis Brown, True Williams, W.W. Denslow. BAL 3386. In very good condition.
Price: $975.00 Item Number: 144227
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“LEARNING SOFTENETH THE HEART AND BREEDETH GENTLENESS AND CHARITY": MARK TWAIN'S CLASSIC HISTORICAL DRAMA THE PRINCE AND THE PAUPER; FROM THE LIBRARY OF AMERICAN JOURNALIST WILLIAM SAFIRE
TWAIN, Mark. [Samuel L. Clemens].
The Prince and the Pauper: A Tale of Young People of All Ages.
Leipzig: Bernhard Tauchnitz, 1881.
First Tauchnitz edition of Twain’s first attempt at historical fiction, first published in Canada in 1881. 12mo, 2 volumes bound into one in half cloth over marbled boards. From the library of American journalist William Safire with his bookplate to the pastedown. William Safire was an important American author, columnist, journalist, and presidential speechwriter. He joined Nixon’s campaign for the 1960 Presidential race, and again in 1968. After Nixon’s 1968 victory, Safire served as a speechwriter for him and Spiro Agnew. He authored several political columns in addition to his weekly column “On Language” in The New York Times Magazine…
Price: $300.00 Item Number: 135741
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“Learning softeneth the heart and breedeth gentleness and charity": First Edition of Mark Twain's Classic The Prince and the Pauper
TWAIN, Mark. [Samuel L. Clemens].
The Prince and the Pauper.
James R. Osgood and Company: New York, 1882.
First edition, early state of this classic work. BAL 3402. Johnson p. 39-41. Octavo, original publisher's green pictorial cloth decorated in gilt, with one hundred and ninety-two illustrations. In good condition.
Price: $750.00 Item Number: 140372
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“Learning softeneth the heart and breedeth gentleness and charity": First Edition of Mark Twain's Classic The Prince and the Pauper; From the library of William Safire
TWAIN, Mark. [Samuel L. Clemens].
The Prince and the Pauper.
James R. Osgood and Company: New York, 1882.
First edition, second state with the Franklin Press imprint on the copyright page and corrected text on page 124 line 1 (corrected from estate to state). BAL 3402. Johnson p. 39-41. Octavo, original publisher's green pictorial cloth decorated in gilt, with one hundred and ninety-two illustrations. From the library of William Safire with his bookplate to the pastedown. William Safire was an important American author, columnist, journalist, and presidential speechwriter. He joined Nixon’s campaign for the 1960 Presidential race, and supported him again in 1968. After Nixon’s 1968 victory, Safire served as a speechwriter for him and Spiro Agnew. He…
Price: $1,600.00 Item Number: 127482
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“You cannot surprise an individual more than twice with the same marvel": First Edition, first state of Mark Twains Life On The Mississippi in the publisher's original full sheep
TWAIN, Mark [Samuel L. Clemens].
Life On The Mississippi.
Boston: James R. Osgood and Company, 1883.
First American edition, first state of this provocative portrait of the great Mississippi River with tailpiece of Twain in flames on p. 441 and “The St. Louis Hotel” caption on p. 443. Octavo, original publisher's deluxe full sheep with morocco spine labels lettered in gilt, marbled endpapers, all edges marbled, illustrated. In very good condition, rebacked. Uncommon.
Price: $2,500.00 Item Number: 142314
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"THE MOST PRAISED AND MOST CONDEMNED 19TH-CENTURY AMERICAN WORK OF FICTION": FIRST ENGLISH EDITION OF HUCKLEBERRY FINN, PRECEDING THE FIRST AMERICAN EDITION
MARK TWAIN; [SAMUEL L. CLEMENS],.
Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (Tom Sawyer’s Comrade).
London: Chatto & Windus, 1884.
First English edition, preceding the first American edition, of "the most praised and most condemned 19th-century American work of fiction" (Legacies of Genius). Octavo, original decorative red cloth stamped in black and lettered in gilt, patterned endpapers, illustrated from 174 drawings by E. W. Kemble. Binding was originally in BAL's state "B", with the gatherings secured with wire staples; this copy has been recased, presumably in the original cloth with the wire staples removed and replaced with the more conventional thread. Additionally, cloth has been expertly restored, especially at the spine tips and corners, with some red bleeding to the…
Price: $2,250.00 Item Number: 146372
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"THE MOST PRAISED AND MOST CONDEMNED 19TH-CENTURY AMERICAN WORK OF FICTION": FIRST ENGLISH EDITION OF HUCKLEBERRY FINN, PRECEDING THE FIRST AMERICAN EDITION
MARK TWAIN; [SAMUEL L. CLEMENS],.
Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (Tom Sawyer’s Comrade).
London: Chatto & Windus, 1884.
First English edition, preceding the first American edition, of "the most praised and most condemned 19th-century American work of fiction" (Legacies of Genius). Octavo, original decorative red cloth stamped in black and lettered in gilt, patterned endpapers, illustrated from 174 drawings by E. W. Kemble. Text leaves in state A, later issue of 32 pages of publisher's advertisements dated April 1885. The English edition of Huckleberry Finn preceded the American by a few months and was made from sheets sent by American edition publisher Webster. In very good condition with light toning to the spine.
Price: $1,500.00 Item Number: 145703