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Roughing It by Mark Twain, First American Edition, Later State, 1872

About the Item

Twain, Mark, Roughing It. Hartford: American Publishing Company, 1872. First American Edition, Later State. Illustrated throughout, with plates and in-text. In publisher’s black cloth front board and spine stamped in gilt. Presented in a new archival slipcase. This is a first American edition, later state of Mark Twain’s Roughing It. The book was published in 1872 by the American Publishing Company. This book of semi-autobiographical travel literature was written during 1870–71 and published in 1872 as a prequel to Twain’s first book The Innocents Abroad. His second major work, the book is loosely based on Twain traveling West to dig for wealth in the rocks of Nevada and finding it instead as a writer and entertainer. It is presented here in the publisher’s black cloth front board and spine, stamped in gilt, rebacked in new cloth, with a new archival slipcase. As a narrative that travels west through Nevada, California, and ultimately Hawaii, the book was written and advertised as a companion to Twain’s eastward-moving Innocents Abroad. It covers the time between 1861 and 1867, a period of great growth for our nation. In 1867, the Transcontinental Railroad was completed, an event which, Twain wrote to his publisher, "has turned so much attention in that direction." Roughing It sold well, though it was never as popular with American readers as Innocents Abroad. Its ultimate value to Twain may have been to turn his imagination to the vernacular American experience and toward his own past, which became the sources of his greatest success. CONDITION: Good condition. In publisher’s black cloth front board and spine, stamped in pictorial gilt. Expertly rebacked in cloth, with spine laid down. Interior pages are healthy, with only slight toning and imperfections. Illustrated throughout, with plates and in-text. Lacking ad. Label of Harry F. Marks Galleries and Bookshop (NY) mounted to front free endpaper. Small tape stains to front endpaper. Presented in a new archival slipcase. Book Dimensions: 9" H x 6 1/4" W x 1 7/8" D. Slipcase Dimensions: 9 1/2" H x 6 5/8" W x 2 3/8" D. Accompanied by our company's letter of authenticity.
  • Creator:
    Mark Twain (Author)
  • Dimensions:
    Height: 9.5 in (24.13 cm)Width: 6.63 in (16.85 cm)Depth: 2.38 in (6.05 cm)
  • Materials and Techniques:
    Fabric,Paper,Embossed,Gilt
  • Place of Origin:
  • Period:
  • Date of Manufacture:
    1872
  • Condition:
    Repaired: Expertly rebacked in cloth, with spine laid down by Felton Bookbinding Ltd., in Ontario, Canada in July of 2024. Additions or alterations made to the original: New archival slipcase by Felton Bookbinding Ltd., in Ontario, Canada in July of 2024. Wear consistent with age and use. Minor structural damages.
  • Seller Location:
    Colorado Springs, CO
  • Reference Number:
    Seller: BK10591stDibs: LU909740813602

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