THE ADVENTURES OF TOM SAWYER

1876. Hartford [etc.]: The American Publishing Company, 1876. 4 pp ads dated 1 Dec 1876. Original blue cloth decorated in black and gilt, all page edges gilt.

First American Edition, later state -- a combination of the two printings Blanck identifies as "2c" and "3" (all of these are dated 1876). It has the frontispiece on the verso of the half-title, rather than on a separate adjacent leaf (= later than first printing); it is printed on a combination of both wove and laid paper (= printing 2c); and the only preliminary page numbered is the final one xvi (= third printing, except that that printing is all on laid paper). In our experience, (truncated) these second and third states are the variants of TOM SAWYER usually encountered -- though TOM has become somewhat uncommon in any state (much less common than HUCKLEBERRY FINN, for example). This copy has gilding on all the page edges -- a feature for which initial buyers (i.e. subscribers) paid extra. This is a very good, bright copy -- moderate wear at the spine ends, minor soil including a faint darkened area near the top of the front cover, front endpaper cracked. An early female reader signed the front free endpaper, followed by "Bought in Albany". One of the great classics of American literature, as enjoyable today as it was 150 years ago: obviously the first state is preferable, but even in this condition, a gilt-edged copy would have a price well over $15,000. Blanck 3369; McBride pp 40-42; a Johnson High Spot ("recognized as one of the supreme portrayals of boy character"). (Inventory #: 15717)