The Prince and the Pauper by Mark Twain, 1882, First Edition, Custom Binding

Full Title:  The Prince and the Pauper: A Tale for Young People of All Ages

Binding Details:  Beautifully bound in a recent full dark green morocco leather binding with a spine treatment of gilt decorations, double ruling, gilt titling, and five raised bands. The boards are decorated in gilt with a facsimile signature in gilt of the signature of Mark Twain and Samuel Clemens. There are marbled endpapers and pastedowns with the top page ends being gold gilted. The original cover and spine are bound into the rear of the book.

Measures 8.5” x 6.75” with 411 pages as well as a table of contents and list of illustrations.

Book Details:  This is the first American Edition, first issue of Mark Twain’s classic work “The Prince and the Pauper: A Tale for Young People of All Ages” published by J.R. Osgood and Company, Boston in 1882. The first issue points of the Franklin Press imprint on the copyright page and the following identifying points: Page 263, line 9 from bottom ("do not" for "do"); page 362, line 3 from the bottom ("reigned for reined") and page 124, line 1 ("estate" for "state") are all present. The book features 192 illustrations by Frank Merrill, John Harley, and L. S. Ipsen. Commenting on the illustrations, Mark Twain said, “The boys in these illustrations look and dress exactly as I used to see them cast in my mind. . . . It is a vast pleasure to see them cast in the flesh, so to speak."

Condition Report:  The binding is in FINE condition with a very superficial pinpoint rub to the front cover. Internally, the book is very clean with a minor mark to one of the first free endpapers and an occasional stray spot of foxing. Overall, this is a beautiful full leather binding that houses one of Mark Twain’s most enduring works.

Photographs of the binding and some stock illustrations from the book appear in the photo section of the listing.