Mark Twain [Samuel L. Clemens] — Mark Twain"S (Burlesque) Autobiography and First Romance

New York, Sheldon & Company, 1871 . First edition. Cloth. A smart first edition, second impression of this "autobiography," inventing a comic mock-heroic ancestry for Twain, illustrated with comic vignette engravings. In the publisher"s original terracotta cloth binding. First edition, second impression, with the advertisement for Ball, Black & Co. to the verso of the title page. Illustrated with vignette engravings throughout. A short comic work containing two pieces: "A Burlesque Autobiography," first printed in Twain"s "Memoranda" contributions to The Galaxy, and "First Romance," first published in The Express in 1870. Despite the title, the work has nothing to do with Twain"s life. Its "autobiography" invents a mock-heroic ancestry for Twain, while First Romance builds up a melodramatic tale only to break it off with characteristic comic deflation. Deemed by the author as not one of his personal favourites, Twain bought all the printing plates of this book and destroyed them, two years after publication. With an additional page of advertisements to the rear, as well as a newspaper cutting of Twain and one of his other poems. In the publisher"s original terracotta cloth binding. Externally, smart. Slight rubbing and bumping to extremities resulting in minor loss to cloth. Slight rubbing to boards with one or two very light marks. Internally, firmly bound. Pages bright and clean if typically age toned with one or two spots to fore edge. Very Good Indeed . Ill.: None Stated. Very Good Indeed .