Bidspirit auction | MARK TWAIN (1835-1910), SKETCHES, NEW

MARK TWAIN (1835-1910), SKETCHES, NEW AND OLD - MARK TWAIN (1835-1910), SKETCHES, NEW AND OLD Signature: Mark Twain Description: A vintage 1893 edition of Sketches, New and Old by Mark Twain, published by the American Publishing Company, Hartford, Connecticut, with Watson Gill of Syracuse, New York. The volume is bound in decorative brown cloth with elaborate black and gilt ornamentation, including the celebrated jumping frog motif associated with Twain's early literary reputation. Originally issued in 1875, Sketches, New and Old brings together a selection of Twain's humorous stories, sketches, observations, and satirical writings, representing an important collection from one of the most influential figures in nineteenth-century American literature. The 1893 title page is written with the names ”Mr. Twitly, ” ”Samuel L. Clemens, ” and ”Mark Twain” in ink, presenting both the author's legal name and celebrated literary pseudonym within the same inscription. The association of Twain's two names with a period edition of his own work gives the volume particularly strong literary and historical appeal. Signed and inscribed books by Mark Twain remain highly desirable within the field of American literary memorabilia, especially examples associated directly with his published writings and preserved in decorative nineteenth-century bindings. The volume exhibits age-related toning and foxing, rubbing and wear to the cloth, softened corners, edge wear, and handling consistent with a nineteenth-century publication.