The Writings of Mark Twain. Definitive Edition. Signed by Mark Twain

Twain, Mark [Samuel Clemens] SIGNED

Published by New York. Gabriel Wells, 1922

About this Item

The Definitive Edition of the Works of Mark Twain. Published in 37 volumes -- this set is missing volume 8 (Tom Sawyer). Blue cloth spines with paper labels. Plain paper over boards. Bindings good and tight. The blue cloth on the spine is uniformly and evenly faded towards gray, as is usual with this set. A limited edition of 1024 sets. This one is numbered 917 on the special limitation page in the first volume. Flyleaf signed by Mark Twain with both Twain and Clemens names. Special insert bound in opposite states "This fly leaf as signed by Mark Twain in 1906 in anticipation of the present Definitive Edition of his work." The note is signed by Albert Bigelow Paine (Twain's biographer). There is some light foxing on the autograph page. A few of the paper spine labels are chipped and all are faded. Please email to see a photo. The Definitive Edition has a fascinating story behind it, starting with the collector Gabriel Wells. The signed sheets in this edition had been forgotten about until their discovery in the Harper & Co vaults. Well acquired those sheets as well as the right to publish the set (for which he paid $200,000). He used the illustrations from earlier editions, evidently without permission. He also arranged to published Paine's Biography of Twain as the final 2 volumes. Those final 2 volumes are dated 1925. Volumes 9-35 are dated 1923. The first 8 volumes are 1922. Extra shipping charges will apply for the full-shelf set. [bookseller's note to himself: the signed volume is in the vault.].

Seller Inventory # Fred-Ses39

Bibliographic Details

• Title: The Writings of Mark Twain. Definitive Edition. Signed by Mark Twain
• Publisher: New York. Gabriel Wells
• Publication Date: 1922
• Binding: Hardcover
• Condition: Good
• Signed: Signed by Author(s)