THE NEW GUIDE OF THE CONVERSATION IN PORTUGUESE AND ENGLISH
Boston: James R. Osgood & Company, 1883. First Edition. Softcover. BAL 3412. Contains Clemens's 5-page Introduction. Issued in both wraps and cloth, this is a scarce set of unbound sheets consisting of 13 signatures (the preface sheet and front endpaper are loose), a result of the publisher's bankruptcy a few years after publication before all copies had been bound for sale. Adding to the scarcity is that this appears to be a copy belonging to Mark Twain's first bibliographer, Merle Johnson, with a full-page note in pencil on the detached front endpaper SIGNED by Johnson: "What is this? Nothing but the sheets of the 1st Edition all uncut and all that -- those in the cloth covers have been neatly trimmed down for the common people. Merle Johnson." Housed in a cloth chemise and slipcase with a gilt-lettered morocco spine label. About Fine in Fine chemise and slipcase. Item #020945
Price: $1,500.00