A Tramp Abroad [First British One-Volume Edition] [Fine Bayntun Binding] [Full Polished Calf-Gilt]

Twain, Mark (Samuel Langhorne Clemens 1835 - 1910)

Published by Chatto & Windus, London, 1880

About this Item

A FINELY-BOUND 'GENTLEMAN'S EDITION' OF MARK TWAIN'S MOST IRREVERENT TRAVELOGUE. This 1880 Chatto & Windus first one-volume edition is a 'Work of Art', transformed by the legendary Bayntun of Bath bindery into a masterpiece of red polished calf and intricate gilt work. While most copies of this title exist in faded Victorian cloth, this specimen-with its gleaming spine bands and marbled endpapers-captures the wit of Twain in a vessel as bold as the 'Bluejay Yarn'. KEY FEATURES +++ Fine Binding: Bound in early 20th-century full red polished calf by Bayntun of Bath, with five raised spine bands, black and olive morocco title labels, and lush gilt adornment. +++ Bibliographic Priority: First one-volume English edition, published the same year as the two-volume premiere. +++ Visuals: Profusely illustrated (314 illustrations) by True Williams, Walter Francis Brown, and featuring sketches by Twain himself.capturing Twain's adventurous (and often fictionalized) trek through the Black Forest and the Alps. +++ Content Highlight: Includes the definitive version of Jim Baker's Bluejay Yarn, hailed as one of the finest comic tales in American literature. +++ Provenance: Features the armorial bookplate of Lewis Edward Pierce. +++ Specs: Small octavo, 7.25 inches tall; all edges gilt (AEG). CONDITION: Near Fine -- A stunning, vibrant shelf presence. The joints have been expertly and nearly invisibly repaired to ensure longevity. The leather remains supple with minimal shelf handling and a minor bump to the upper rear corner. Internally, the text is clean with light, even age-toning. A sturdy, gift-quality example of the binder's craft. HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE -- By 1880, Mark Twain was no longer just an American humorist; he was a global phenomenon. 'A Tramp Abroad' was his return to the travel genre that made him famous, but with a sharper, more satirical edge. This Chatto & Windus edition represents Twain's immense popularity in the UK, where his 'walking tour' was read as a biting commentary on both European tradition and American pretension. The choice of Bayntun of Bath for the binding is significant. Bayntun established itself as the gold standard for restoring and enhancing 19th-century classics, turning books into heirloom furniture. For the collector of Mark Twain or fine bindings, this volume is the perfect marriage of American wit and British elegance-a book designed to be the centerpiece of a private library. SUBJECTS: Mark Twain, European Travel, 19th Century Humor, Fine Bindings, Alpine Exploration, Literary Classics, Travel Narrative, Fine Press/Binding, Americana.

Seller Inventory # 21600

Bibliographic Details

• Title: A Tramp Abroad [First British One-Volume Edition] [Fine Bayntun Binding] [Full Polished Calf-Gilt]
• Publisher: Chatto & Windus, London
• Publication Date: 1880
• Binding: Full Leather
• Edition: First English Edition.
• Condition: Near Fine
• Dust Jacket Condition: No Dust Jacket
• Weight: 2 pounds
• Seller catalogs:
  • LITERATURE [Many Sub-Catagories]
  • AMERICANA
  • FINE PRESS and BINDINGS