Clemens, Samuel L. "Mark Twain"
£2,100
Rare Books, Maps, Manuscripts & Photographs
Auction: 3 September 2008 at 12:00 BST
Description
Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. New York: Charles L. Webster, 1885. First American edition, early issue with BAL points: copyright notice dated 1884, "was" for saw on p.57, the "Him and Another Man" plate listed incorrectly as being at p.88, state "1(2?)" of pagination on page 155 with the final "5" lacking, photogravure plate by Heliotype Printing Co. of a portrait bust by Karl Gerhardt with tablecloth visible (BAL state 1), with the final blank leaf, also with the misprint "decided" on p. 9, later changed to "decides", frontispiece and 173 text illustrations by E.W. Kemble, original pictorial green cloth, blocked and lettered in gilt and black, folding cloth and marbled collector's box, very minor wear to head and tail of spine, scattered damp-flecks to boards
Footnote
Note: A very early issue of Mark Twain's masterpiece. The first reviews appeared in the USA in March 1885, and this copy is inscribed and dated by its first owner in early April 1885, making it one of the earliest inscribed copies to appear at auction. Blanck's Bibliograpy of American Literature [BAL 3415]
Provenance: Mr Laurence Green, 6 April 1885, inscription on front endpaper