8vo. Wood-engraved frontispiece and numerous illustrations in text by True Williams and others; 4pp. publisher's advertisements at end. Original blue cloth, blocked in gilt and black, peach endpapers, edges gilt (spine strengthened at ends, hinges neatly repaired and tightened, some small restoration at fore-corners, spine darkened); folding case.

FIRST AMERICAN EDITION, FIRST PRINTING, printed on wove paper, versos of half-title and preface blank, first state of "THE" in the half-title (1/16" high). "The irresponsibility, the love of odd adventure, and the sense of natural justice as opposed to the village code, which characterize the heroes of this book and its sequel Huckleberry Finn, presented a sharp contrast to the Sunday School or rags-to-riches literature which was then the common fare doled out to children... these books let fresh air into the minds of parents who had shut the door on their own childhood, and they will be classics the world over as long as there are boys" (Grolier American 79). BAL 3369; Johnson p. 27; Peter Parley to Penrod 43.