Clemens, Samuel Langhorne | A fine copy of Tom Sawyer, Clemens's first novel.

The Passion of American Collectors: Property of Barbara and Ira Lipman

Clemens, Samuel Langhorne

The Adventures of Tom Sawyer. By Mark Twain. Hartford: The American Publishing Company, 1876

In 8s (213 x 165 mm). Frontispiece and 159 wood-engraved text illustrations by True Williams and others, half-title, 4 pages of publisher's advertisements at end. Publisher's decorative blue cloth stamped in gilt and black, peach endpapers, gilt edges; extremities lightly rubbed, head and foot of front endpapers with very short separations at inner hinge. Half green morocco slipcase, chemise.

First American edition, first printing of text with points: printed on wove paper, versos of half-title and preface blank. A fine, completely unsophisticated copy.

PROVENANCE

George and Gertrude Bunnell (1876 Christmas inscription, in pencil, on front free endpaper; bookplate) — Victor and Irene Murr Jacobs (Sotheby’s New York, 29 October 1996, lot 206)

REFERENCE

BAL 3369; Grolier, American 79; Johnson, p. 27