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Mark Twain, 1876.
Details
The Adventures of Tom Sawyer
Mark Twain, 1876.
CLEMENS, Samuel (“Mark Twain,” 1835-1910). The Adventures of Tom Sawyer. London: Chatto and Windus, 1876.
First edition of the iconic American “Boys’ Book.” Twain’s first novel written without a co-author and the most auto-biographical of his novels: set in a village closely modeled on his own hometown and with many of the characters taken from life. “Tom Sawyer arrived at a momentous time in American history. Its first edition was issued in England on June 9, 1876. Sixteen days later, Indians annihilated George Armstrong Custer’s Seventh Cavalry at Little Big Horn. Nine days after that, American celebrated the centennial of its birth. By the time Mark Twain died, it was his top selling book” (Rasmussen, 458). This is the true first edition, as Twain did not want an American edition published until the novel had first appeared in England, thus securing a British copyright. BAL 3367; Johnson, 29.
Octavo (195 x 138mm). Half-title, 1p. ads at beginning (thumbed, small scattered stains, gatherings G and O somewhat loose). Original red cloth, upper cover blocked in black and gilt, yellow endpapers (extremities bumped, spine slightly creased, a few stains); modern red half morocco clamshell box.
Mark Twain, 1876.
CLEMENS, Samuel (“Mark Twain,” 1835-1910). The Adventures of Tom Sawyer. London: Chatto and Windus, 1876.
First edition of the iconic American “Boys’ Book.” Twain’s first novel written without a co-author and the most auto-biographical of his novels: set in a village closely modeled on his own hometown and with many of the characters taken from life. “Tom Sawyer arrived at a momentous time in American history. Its first edition was issued in England on June 9, 1876. Sixteen days later, Indians annihilated George Armstrong Custer’s Seventh Cavalry at Little Big Horn. Nine days after that, American celebrated the centennial of its birth. By the time Mark Twain died, it was his top selling book” (Rasmussen, 458). This is the true first edition, as Twain did not want an American edition published until the novel had first appeared in England, thus securing a British copyright. BAL 3367; Johnson, 29.
Octavo (195 x 138mm). Half-title, 1p. ads at beginning (thumbed, small scattered stains, gatherings G and O somewhat loose). Original red cloth, upper cover blocked in black and gilt, yellow endpapers (extremities bumped, spine slightly creased, a few stains); modern red half morocco clamshell box.
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Heather Weintraub
Specialist, Books, Manuscripts, & Archives