McIntosh, T.R.; Winkler, John A. (Twain, Mark)

Mark Twain in Williamsport with: Mark Twain's Hannibal Guide and Biography

Liverpool, PA; n/p: Bob Sprowls; Becky Thatcher Book Shop, 1985; n/d. Limited First Edition; First Edition. Stapled Wrappers. Two rare booklets concerning Samuel Langhorne Clemens a/k/a Mark Twain (1835-1910), the great American humorist & author: (1) Mark Twain in Williamsport, booklet in stapled wrappers, 1985 first edition, No. 725 of 1000 copies, all as stated on title page. With a series of articles by Twain scholar & educator T.R. McIntosh which tells the story of a lecture given by Twain at Williamsport, Pennsylvania on New Year's Eve of 1869; & Twain's story "Remarkable Dream" which was inspired by his visit, originally published in newspapers from Buffalo, NY & Williamsport during 1870. With vintage contemporary images of Twain (including on front cover) & ephemera. It is noted that the year of publication marked the 150th anniversary of Twain's birth. (2) Mark Twain's Hannibal Guide and Biography, booklet in stapled wrappers, no date or copyright information, (presumably) published by Becky Thatcher Book Shop in Hannibal, Missouri per name & logo thereof on back cover. With, per index on front cover: "Tom Sawyer's Town," an essay by John A. Winkler on Hannibal as Twain's boyhood home & the inspiration for his immortal literary character Tom Sawyer; questions and answers About Twain; a chronology of Twain's life; genealogical chart; lists of Twain's works & of hotels, tourist courts & restaurants. The condition of this booklet, its graphic style & references to hotels, "tourist courts" & restaurants on various old "Routes" (rather than expressways) lead us to believe that this booklet dates to no later than the mid-1950s, if not earlier. Two rare & enriching Twain-related rarities- an especially scarce work of critical-historical scholarship; & a very quaint souvenir of the home of Twain, & his creation. (1) in especially very fine condition with only very slight rubbing to front, back covers & stapled spine; a few miniscule bumps at edges & corners of same; very small area of residue from removed sticker near lower left corner of blank back cover. Interior substantially mint. (2) relatively good-to-near-fine with moderate-to-significant browning, sunning to front, back covers & stapled spine; mild wear, tiny chips & a few short, closed tears & creases at edges & corners of same; small area with slight loss of paper at upper edge & corner of covers & spine; moderate rubbing & browning to edges of text block. Interior fine with browning mostly at blank margins of page leaves; small creases, tiny bumps at corners of same. Very Fine; Good to Near Fine. [Item #4314]

Price: $80.00