Condensed Novels. And Other Papers
first edition
1867 · New York
by Harte, F. Bret
New York: G. W. Carleton & Company, 1867 First edition. Pp. x, [11]-307, [308, blank], [4, ads]. Illustrated with "comic illustrations" by Frank Bellew. Publisher's dark green blind and gilt-stamped cloth, light blue endpapers. Owner's pencil signature on flyleaf (Arthur S. Rosenblatt of San Francisco). Bookplate on inner cover. Very minor dinging to spine ends and two corners. Some foxing to extreme fore-edge of text block, but a remarkably fine, bright and clean copy. Although not stated, apparently there were only 1500 copies of this work published as Harte himself states, "...my contract with Carleton of New York expired with his first and only edition of the Condensed Novels (fifteen hundred copies)...". The book was reprinted by Osgood, in 1871. "Some of the sketches that appear after the burlesques of popular novels have California settings. Born in Albany, Harte (1836-1902) moved to California in 1854 where he worked as a clerk, teacher, reporter, etc. These experiences were the basis for his writings. He is best remembered for his Luck of Roaring Camp and Other Sketches (1870) and his poem, The Heathen Chinee. The present work is a volume of parodies. [Baird & Greenwood, Annotated Bibliography of California Fiction: 1086; BAL: 7240].. (Inventory #: 8080)