Beschreibung:

Title: The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County, and Other Sketches Author: Twain, Mark [pseud. of Samuel L. Clemens] Place: New York Publisher: C.H. Webb Date: 1867 Description: 198 pp. Advertisement leaf on cream-yellow paper inserted between front free endpaper and title-page. (12mo) 17x11 cm (6¾x4¼") original blue cloth with gilt frog stamped at lower left of front cover and matching frog in blind at lower left of rear cover; custom half morocco slipcase & chemise. First Edition, first printing. First issue, or printing, of the author's first book, with the leaf of ads facing the title page and with unbroken type on pages 21, 66 and 198. "Perhaps no short sketch of Twain's so quickly won wide popularity as did 'The Jumping Frog.' Calaveras County, California, is known to thousands who have never seen the Golden State simply because of this gem of humor. This little volume, the author's first published book, came into being under the sponsorship of Charles Henry Webb-who also edited it under his pseudonym of 'John Paul.' To accompany 'The Jumping Frog' he chose twenty-six other sketches, of which at least two, 'Curing a Cold' and 'The Story of the Bad Little Boy Who Didn't Come to Grief,' later attained the distinction of being incorporated into recitation books for the delectation of even wider audiences" (Zamorano Eighty). BAL 3310; Zamorano Eighty 17. With early ownership signature at top of title page, "No. 105. Alfred Morton, U.S.A." Lot Amendments Condition: Spine a little dull, expertly repaired at ends, light corner wear and slight rubbing to covers; very good or a bit better, increasingly elusive in the first edition. Item number: 274113