THE DEFINITIVE EDITION OF TWAIN’S WORKS, ONE OF 1024 COPIES BEARING HIS SIGNATURE, WITH AN AUTOGRAPH LETTER SIGNED BY HIM
TWAIN, Mark. Works. New York: Gabriel Wells, 1922-25. Thirty-seven volumes. Octavo, modern full burgundy morocco gilt, top edge gilt, marbled endpapers.
“Definitive Edition” of Twain’s writings, number 86 of 1024 sets with a specially prepared leaf signed by the author ( “S.L. Clemens / Mark Twain”) in 1906 in Volume I, accompanied by a signed autograph letter entirely in Twain’s hand requesting books from a bookseller.
"High and fine literature is wine," Twain once wrote, "and mine is only water; but everybody likes water." This beautiful edition of Twain's complete novels, essays and sketches attests to the enduring popularity and power of his works—many of which, despite their author's protestation to the contrary, have come to be regarded as among the finest vintage American literature offers. Among other classics, the set includes A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court, Life on the Mississippi, and the adventures of both Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn, as well as Twain's autobiography and Albert Paine Bigelow's influential and long-standard biography of him. Illustrated with 174 plates.
This copy is signed by editor Albert Bigelow Paine on a leaf opposite the leaf signed by Twain with the note that "This fly-leaf was signed by Mark Twain in 1906 in anticipation of the present definitive edition of his works." Tipped into the first volume is a short letter from Twain entirely in his hand requesting books from a bookdealer. The letter reads in full: "July 3/97. Dear C & W: Can you Please send me cheap cheap editions of these? Amiel's Journal. Dostoieffsky's 'Crime and Punishment' (Vizitelly). The one-volume edition of 'Green's Short History of the English People.' Yours, SLC."
Interiors generally fine.