Twain, Mark.

A CONNECTICUT YANKEE IN KING ARTHUR'S COURT. [Publisher's Prospectus / Salesman's Dummy]

New York: Charles L. Webster & Co., 1889. First U.S. edition. Publisher's prospectus or salesman's dummy with half-title page, frontis illustration, title page, contents pages, "List of Illustrations" (explaining why there is no list of illustrations); Twain's preface, and a sampling of pages from the text interspersed with full-plate illustrations (versus inset, as they appear in the eventual publication). 16-page illustrated insert bound in at rear with 18 images -- each with a caption explaining its meaning by Fred Hall, Twain's agent at Webster. One stands out in particular, as the explanation is for a scene clearly not in the book ("This picture well illustrates a story told of Abraham Lincoln, An English nobleman said to him ,,,,,").Final leaf has "Publisher's Announcement" on recto and ad for the book on verso. Lacking the subscription forms, which should follow but have clearly been torn out, and one of the leather-spine samples from the front, which has clearly been removed. Front cover is illustrative of the three-quarter leather option extending onto the plain (unlettered) spine; back cover is illustrative of the full decorated leather option. Front endpapers are marbled with one example of the leather spine option still present on pastedown (other has been removed); rear endpapers are pale-green patterned paper with brightly gilt-stamped green cloth option (including fold-in spine) affixed to pastedown. Despite its missing pieces and general wear, good to very good. Rare.
Item #49501

Price: $2,500.00