Mark Twain's Autobiography by Twain, Mark - 1924

New York and London: Harper & Brothers, 1924. First Edition. Hardcover. Near Fine/Good. First printing, two volumes (complete), octavo size, 755 pp., with dust jackets and slipcase. Two-volume set with dust jackets and scarce slipcase. First edition, first printing of Mark Twain's famous autobiography which has very recently been re-released with copious notes; although many believe Mark Twain wished his autobiography to not be published until 100 years after his death, his friend and literary executor at the time, Albert Bigelow Paine, clearly felt differently as this set was initially published in 1924, only 14 years after his death. It was felt this was sufficient time to honour his actual request that they not be published until "long after" his death.

___DESCRIPTION: Bound in navy blue cloth, facsimile signature in gilt on the front boards, gilt lettering on the spines, top edges gilt, frontispiece in each volume a different sepia-toned photogravure of Twain, title pages in red and black; octavo size (approximately 9.25" tall), pagination: Volume I, (i)-xvi, (1)-368; Volume II, (i-iv), 1-365, followed by 2 pages of publisher's ads. Dust jackets are of light blue with midnight blue lettering, the frontispiece from Volume I serving on both jackets as an illustration on the front, publisher's ad on the back panel for "Important Biographies", summary of book on front flap, publisher's ad on back flap. Slipcase also covered in light blue paper, both sides mirror the front of the dustjackets.

___CONDITION: Both volumes are near fine, with strong, square text blocks, solid hinges, straight corners with a hint of rubbing (if any), and the interiors are clean and bright; there is a slight amount of rubbing to the head and tail of the spines and some foxing to the gutter margins of the endpapers. The fragile dust jackets, which we paired to the books from another set, are good only with substantial wear and some sunning; Volume I is missing the top half of the spine and the back panel is detached from the remainder of the spine; the jacket for Volume II is missing a chip out of the head of the spine. The slipcase is good plus, with all pieces being present; there is overall wear and some soiling, and some of the seams are beginning to split.

___CITATION: BAL #3537; on copyright page: "First Edition" with code letters "H - Y", State A with Vol. 1 frontispiece, printed tissue inserted and Vol. 2, two pages of advertisements followed by a blank leaf.

___POSTAGE: Please note that due to the size and weight of this work additional postage may apply; we are happy to ship at cost to both domestic and international addresses, please contact us for details.

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