“ONE OF THE MOST DURABLE WORKS IN AMERICAN LITERATURE,” BOLDLY SIGNED BY MARK TWAIN

TWAIN, Mark. The Adventures of Tom Sawyer. Hartford: American Publishing Company, 1899. Octavo, original gilt- and black-stamped blue cloth. $22,000.

Later edition in original cloth of one of the universally recognized masterpieces of American literature, Twain’s irrepressible and unforgettable “true boy’s book,” boldly signed by Twain on the front free endpaper.

"The first novel Mark Twain wrote without a co-author, Tom Sawyer is also his most clearly autobiographical novel… Enlivened by extraordinary and melodramatic events, it is otherwise a realistic depiction of the experiences, people and places that Mark Twain knew as a child" (Rasmussen, 459). Originally published in England without illustrations, Tom Sawyer arrived at a momentous time in American history: Custer had recently lost the battle at Little Big Horn and America was celebrating its centennial. "Publication of Tom Sawyer was little noticed… The book has, however, proved to be one of the most durable works in American literature. By the time of Twain's death, it was his top-selling book. It has been in print continuously since 1876, and has outsold all other Mark Twain works" (Rasmussen, 459). "This was a true boy's book, and surviving copies are proof of how rough little boys can be on books" (MacDonnell, 40). First published in 1876. BAL 3369. MacDonnell, 39-40. See Johnson, 27-30. Ink gift inscription on title page; owner signature; bookseller label.

Text clean; minor expert reinforcement to text block. Mild rubbing to extremities of generally clean cloth, most notably at ends of slightly toned spine, gilt bright. A very scarce signed copy of an American classic.