The Adventures of Tom Sawyer

Mark Twain [Samuel L. Clemens]

Published by The American Publishing Company,, Hartford, Conn:, 1876

About this Item

First Issue Very good in its original, very uncommon, light brown, full sheepskin binding with four raised bands on the spine and with a dark brown leather title label stamped in gilt in one of the compartments and with gilt rules on either side of the raised bands. An octavo of 8 by 6 3/8 inches with light wear and rubbing to all edges with the leather barely worn through over the upper front board tip and the lower rear board tip. There is a dampness stain to the upper fore corner of the fly title page. Pages 65/66 and 77/78 have two inch closed tears to their fore edges which have both been professionally repaired. Strangely, the first free end page appears to be a cancel. Both front and rear hinges are cracked, but the binding is holding and remains tight. The contents are tight and show extensive spots of foxing and hand soiling throughout. According to Merle Johnson the first state of this title shows the word "The" on the fly title page as being only 1/8 inch high. For this copy that is the case. The fly title page is on its own leaf and the pages are printed on wove paper. 274 pages of text followed by an unnumbered conclusion page with no ads from the publisher. Illustrated with a frontispiece from an engraving and chapter headings and vignettes throughout. The recto of the forntis is blank. This copy is protected within an elegant clamshell box which is fully covered in leather with beveled edges and a rounded spine with five raised bands with gilt text stamping in three compartments. (BAL, 3369; Johnson, p27). Seller Inventory # TB32288

Bibliographic Details

Title: The Adventures of Tom Sawyer

Publisher: The American Publishing Company,, Hartford, Conn:

Publication Date: 1876

Binding: Hardcover

Edition: First Edition, First Issue.