TWAIN, Mark [CLEMENS, Samuel] — LIFE ON THE MISSISSIPPI
Boston. James R. Osgood and Company. First Edition. Publisher's full mottled sheep leather with gilt-lettered morocco spine labels and marbled edges and endpapers. Illustrated with engravings and plates. BAL 3411: Scarce first state with tailpiece of Twain in flames on page 441 and the "St. Louis Hotel" caption on page 443. The page with Twain depicted in flames was later removed at the request of Mrs. Clemens who considered it morbid. One of Twain's best books, this autobiographical account of life on and around America's great river was considered by Twain to be his masterpiece and is quite uncommon in this binding, the scarcest of the seven bindings available to subscribers.. Internally clean and fresh. Light wear to spine tips with some discoloration to the spine. Joints on both covers beginning to split but covers tight. Overall Near Fine
