Sold for $6,000

Square 8vo. Lithographic frontispiece by E.W. Kemble, photographic portrait frontispiece of the bust of Mark Twain by Karl Gerhardt (BAL state 1), illustrations in text. Original pictorial green cloth stamped in gold and black (spine ends slightly frayed, extremities slightly rubbed, rear cover with finish a little rubbed and with a few minor scuffs, otherwise a bright copy); morocco folding case. Provenance: Ella Moffett (presentation inscription from the publisher, see below).
 
FIRST AMERICAN EDITION, PUBLISHER’S PRESENTATION COPY, inscribed by Charles L. Webster to his cousin on the front free endpaper: “To Miss Ella Moffett / With the compliments of her cousin the publisher of the book. New York March 19th 1885.” William Moffett married Clemens’ sister Pamela and their daughter, Annie Moffett, married Charles Webster. Erasmus Moffett was the brother of William, and his daughter was the recipient Ella Moffett. Charles L. Webster was Clemens’ niece’s husband. 

 

EARLY STATE, with early issue points: first state of p. 57 with "was" for "saw"; first state of the list of illustrations with "Him and Another Man" plate listed as being on p. 88; third state of pagination on folio 155 (the final five slightly larger and below the line); the title leaf is a cancel with 1884 copyright date; third state of p. 283 (a cancel); the portrait frontispiece is in first state. In addition, the present copy contains blank leaf. BAL 3415; Grolier American 87; Johnson, pp. 43-50. A FINE ASSOCIATION.