Books

Small octavo, 7.25 inches tall, early 20th-century full red polished calf, five spine bands with gilt adornment, spine title labels in black and olive morocco, marbled endpages; all edges gilt. First one-volume English edition of Twain's richly illustrated walking tour through the Black Forest and the Alps, published the same year as the two-volume first English edition. Handsomely bound in full polished calf-gilt by Bayntun. Joints expertly repaired; minimal shelf handling; upper rear corner minor bump. Armorial bookplate of Lewis Edward Pierce on the front pastedown. "The Spectacle of a Man Adventurous Enough to Undertake a Journey Through Europe by Foot." The third of Twain's five engaging travel narratives. Twain includes local folklore (some of which he made up) and slips in several sketches that have little or nothing to do with Europe, including one of his most famous comic tales. 'Jim Baker's Bluejay Yarn. (MacDonald, 42) According to BAL, the two-volume first English Edition was advertised as being available April 10, 1880; "a Chatto & Windus reprint in one volume was advertised in Bookseller August 1880 as nearly ready, listed in Atheneum Aug. 14, 1880." Ref: Johnson, 35; McBride, 62; Bal 3386 (note).