The American Claimant

New York: Charles L. Webster & Co, 1892. First Edition. Cloth. Near fine. Daniel Carter BEARD. [LITERARY WORK]. TWAIN, Mark [Samuel CLEMENS]. The American Claimant, New York: Charles L. Webster & Co., 1892. Dan BEARD, illustrator. Jenkins & McCowan, New York, printers.

First edition. 8vo; xv, [i], 17-277, [1]pp + [8]pp publisher's ads; publisher's olive cloth over board, gilt-stamped lettering on front and spine, vignette of two men, a lion with a crown and an eagle stamped in black on front; gift inscription in neat ink on front pastedown dated "Christmas 1892;" fp and 23 additional b&w illustrations within the text; light shelf wear, small circular stain to rear board; near fine. BAL 3434. This is Mark Twain's humorous story of mistaken identities and the switched roles of an American citizen and a British aristocrat. "Mark Twain" was the nom-de-plume of the American novelist and humorist, Samuel Clemens (1835-1910).

The illustrator, Daniel Carter Beard (1850-1941), was also known as "Uncle Dan." In 1905 he founded a boys' group called the Sons of Daniel Boone, which later merged with the Boy Scouts of America. He illustrated many books and publications, including St. Nicholas Magazine, and some written for boys including The American Boys' Handy Book.