Liber Scriptorum. The First Book of the Authors Club.

First and only edition of this sweeping anthology of stories, poems, essays and prose sketches with contributions from one hundred and nine writers, each contribution signed by its author at its conclusion. The most prominent are Mark Twain (“The Californian’s Tale,” page 161, the first appearance of this story), Theodore Roosevelt (“A Shot at a Bull Elk,” page 487) and Andrew Carnegie (“Genius Illustrated from Burns,” page 99). Thick folio, original publisher’s full deluxe dark brown straight-grained morocco ornately stamped in blind and black with gilt decorations to the front panel and spine, top edge gilt with other edges uncut, gilt inner dentelles, floral endpapers, title page printed in red and black. One of 251 numbered copies signed by each of the 109 contributors, this is number 93. In near fine condition blind stamp of the Wheeler School to the right edge of the title page and a bookplate to the front free endpaper. An impressive collection of the works and signatures of leading late nineteenth century literary figures. “The Authors Club of New York, organized in 1882, was a social club for like-minded men and a support group for younger writers. In 1891, club members conceived Liber Scriptorum as a means to raise money for a suitable permanent home. Each member contributed an original essay, story or poem that would never be published elsewhere. Each author signed 251 copies of his entry, and the books were then bound. The book, published and printed by club member Theodore Low De Vinne, sold for $100, almost $2000 in 2002 dollars. De Vinne donated the work at cost, and the club enjoyed a profit of $10,500. By the time the book was finished and the profit realized, Andrew Carnegie had given the club a suite of rooms in his building at 57th and Seventh Avenue, and the publication proceeds were used to furnish the rooms” (Carnegie Mellon University). Liber Scriptorum marks the first appearance in print of Twain’s tale about an unfortunate man’s undying devotion to his wife. Contrary to the club’s original plans, this story was later included in The $30,000 Bequest and Other Stories (1906). Other contributors include De Vinne, William Dean Howells, Henry Van Dyke and Frank R. Stockton. Though “there are presumed to be 251 copies of the book; actually, over 30 of these were not bound but were sold as separate articles” (Johnson, 128). BAL 3438.…