"I DO LOVE, LOVE, LOVE YOU, LIVY": THE LOVE LETTERS OF MARK TWAIN, WITH HIS DOUBLE SIGNATURE

TWAIN, Mark. The Love Letters of Mark Twain. New York: Harper & Brothers, 1949. Tall octavo, original black cloth, original dust jacket, original slipcase. $14,500.

Signed limited first edition of Twain’s love letters to his wife, number 112 of only 155 copies printed, with tipped-in limitation page containing Twain’s double signature: “S.L. Clemens, Mark Twain,” in original numbered slipcase.

Although the book was not published until many years after Twain's death, a printed notice on the limitation page reads, "These signatures of Mark Twain have been in the possession of Harper & Brothers for fifty years. There are no more." Edited and with an introduction by Dixon Wecter, the literary editor of the Twain estate. Printed on Colophon Text paper, with special photographic frontispiece portraits. BAL 3579. McBride, 296. Bookplate of journalist and San Diego newspaper publisher James Strohn Copley. Copley was a leading Republican who maintained associations with politicians including Barry Goldwater, Richard M. Nixon and Spiro Agnew. Copley was also an avid collector of books and historical documents; the Helen K. and James S. Copley Library at the University of San Diego is named for him. Trace of small label removal to rear slipcase panel.

A beautiful signed copy in fine condition.