Mark Twain [Samuel L. Clemens] — The Stolen White Elephant, Etc

Boston, James R. Osgood and Company, 1882 . First edition. Cloth. A worn but desirable first edition of Twain"s collection of comic sketches and stories, headed by his absurd detective parody, "The Stolen White Elephant." In the publisher's original pictorial beige cloth binding.  First edition. First impression with twelves pages of publisher's advertisements to rear, dated "Spinrg 1882."  A collection of eighteen comic sketches and stories, headed by "The Stolen White Elephant," Twain"s absurd detective tale of a diplomatic white elephant, intended as a gift for the Queen, which vanishes in New Jersey. The volume also includes "Some Rambling Notes of an Idle Excursion," "The Facts Concerning the Recent Carnival of Crime," "On the Decay of the Art of Lying," "The Canvasser"s Tale," and "The Loves of Alonzo Fitz Clarence and Rosannah Ethelton."  In the publisher's original pictorial beige cloth binding. Externally, worn. Lacking the spine with exposure of backstrip, webbing, and text block. Slight rubbing and bumping to extremities resulting in minor loss to cloth. Slight discolouration to perimeters of boards with the odd light mark and spot. Rear hinge starting, but firm. Internally, generally firmly bound. Small 1cm tear to fore edge of half-title. Previous ink ownership inscription to head of title page. Slight age toning to fore edge with one or two light spots and handling marks. Fair . Ill.: None. Fair .