Books

New York: C. H. Webb, 1868. Second Edition. Good. Second edition (the first was published in 1867). Bound in publisher's purple cloth stamped in gilt, with frog in blind on rear cover. Good. Cloth worn and a bit stained, and with some bubbling. Pencil scribbles to coated front endpapers, light chipping and previous owner names to preliminary blanks, short edge tear and erased pencil scribbles to title page. Pages toned, occasionally foxed. An early copy of Twain's first book.

The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County, also known as 'The Notorious Jumping Frog of Calaveras County' is an 1865 short story by Mark Twain. It was his first great success as a writer and brought him national attention. The story is set in a gold-mining camp in Calaveras County, California, and the plot revolves around a jumping frog contest. Twain's narrative follows the gambler Jim Smiley, who has a frog that can jump higher than any other frog. This humorous tale is also known for its colorful characters, including the narrator, who is drawn into the story by the loquacious storyteller, Simon Wheeler.