The Passion of American C♏ollectors: Property of Barbara and Ira Lipman

Clemens, Samuel Langhorne

The Prince and the Pauper: A Tale for Young People of All Ages. By Mark Twain. Boston: James R. Osgood and Company, 1882

In 8s (213 x 165 mm). Facsimile holograph and wood-engraved frontispiece, Franklin Press imprint on verso of title-page, numerous text illustrations, chapter vignettes. Publisher's pictorial green cloth (BAL state A), stamped inꦓ gilt and black, plain endpapers and edges; very slightest ruꦰbbing to extremities. Half green morocco slipcase, chemise.

A superb, virtually flawless copy of the first American edition, corrected state of text. The Prince and the Pauper—the first of Clemens's historical novels—exemplifies the author's later claim, "I have never written a book for boys; I write for grown-ups who have been boys." The story was inspired by Charlotte Yonge's Little Duke, which Clemens fouﷺ💯nd in his sister-in-law's library at Quarry Farm.

PROVENANCE

Hezꦺekiah Conant (armorial bookplate) — Nick Karanovich (Sotheby’s New York, 19 Ju꧅ne 2003, lot 51)

REFERENCE

BAL 3402; Johnson, pp. 39–41