Twain, Mark

The Prince and the Pauper (Two Editions)

ISBN: 0520036220;0195101
Berkeley, CA; New York, NY: The Iowa Center for Textual Studies/ University of California Press; Oxford University Press, 1979; 1996. First Editions Thus. Hardcovers. Two editions of a classic work of historical fantasy-fiction by Samuel Langhorne Clemens a/k/a Mark Twain, the canonical American humorist & author: (1) The Prince and the Pauper, published for The Iowa Center for Textual Studies by the University of California Press, 1979. As noted on front flap, "When The Prince and the Pauper was first published in 1881, it met with immediate critical approval for its charming conception, its ingenious plot, its artistic execution, and its underlying deep seriousness. Since that time it has continued to be one of Mark Twain's best loved books. Careful study and comparison of existing documents...have made it possible to reconstruct the no longer surviving printer's proofs and to determine how (Twain) revised them...he wrote that unauthorized changes in the proofs had turned his hair "white with rage." Here for the first time those and other unauthorized alterations are distinguished from (Twain's) own, and the text is finally printed as the author intended it." Edited by Victor Fischer and Lin Salamo with the assistance of Mary Jane Jones; with an introduction by Salamo, extensive notes & appendices. Hardcover in unclipped dust jacket, first edition thus, a handsome & thorough academic production. (2) The Prince and the Pauper, Oxford University Press, 1996. As stated in Editor's Note, "The Oxford Mark Twain consists of twenty-nine volumes of facsimiles of the first American editions of Mark Twain's works, with an editor's foreword, new introductions, afterwords, notes on the texts, and essays on the illustrations in volumes with artwork." This volume in the series reproduces the first edition published by James R. Osgood and Company in 1882 (copyrighted 1881) including all original illustrations (which are also reproduced in (1) above). Edited by Shelley Fisher Fishkin, with introduction by Judith Martin & afterword by Everett Emerson. "The Prince and the Pauper is one of Twain's best-known and best-loved books throughout the world. In this historical tale set in mid-(sixteenth)-century England, the Prince of Wales and a lookalike pauper exchange places by accident just days before Henry VIII's death. Each boy finds that his "father" believes him to be mad; each is befriended by his "sister," and each wakes from sleep thinking that his trying experiences have been just a bad dream. Along the way each learns crucial lessons about manners, morals, justice, and compassion." (from front flap) Hardcover in unclipped dust jacket, first trade edition thus, first printing as indicated by number sequence on copyright page. Two collectible, scholarly editions of one of the immortal Mark Twain's most acclaimed works. (1) Book in very fine condition with only a bit of rubbing to edges & corners of front, back covers & spine; very slight rubbing to upper edge of text block; otherwise substantially mint inside & out. Dust jacket very fine with only very slight rubbing to front, back covers & spine; a few tiny bumps at edges & corners of same & flaps; moderate sunning to spine. (2) Book very fine with only tiny amount of rubbing at spine-corners; otherwise substantially mint inside & out. Dust jacket very fine with only very slight rubbing to front, back covers & spine; a few tiny bumps at edges & corners of same. Very Fine / Very Fine. [Item #4303]

Price: $60.00