Roughing It by Mark Twain, First U.S. Edition, Later Printing, in Original Boards, 1872

Twain, Mark, Roughing It. Hartford: American Publishing Company, 1872. First American edition, later printing “Seventy-Fifth Thousand.” Octavo. In the publisher's original brown cloth with a decoration and lettering stamped in gilt on the front board, borders in blind on the front board, titles and the publisher's device in gilt on the spine; all edges sprinkled brown. Illustrated throughout, with engraved plates and in-text. 

This is a first American edition, later printing of Mark Twain’s Roughing It. The book was published in 1872 by the American Publishing Company. This book of semi-autobiographical travel literature was written during 1870–71 and published in 1872 as a prequel to Twain’s first book The Innocents Abroad. His second major work, the book is loosely based on Twain traveling West to dig for wealth in the rocks of Nevada and finding it instead as a writer and entertainer. It is presented here in the publisher’s brown cloth with gilt decoration , gilt titles, and blind stamped boards to the front board, gilt titles and publisher’s device on the spine, and brown sprinkled edges. 

As a narrative that travels west through Nevada, California, and ultimately Hawaii, the book was written and advertised as a companion to Twain’s eastward-moving Innocents Abroad. It covers the time between 1861 and 1867, a period of great growth for our nation. In 1867, the Transcontinental Railroad was completed, an event which, Twain wrote to his publisher, "has turned so much attention in that direction."

Roughing It sold well, though it was never as popular with American readers as Innocents Abroad. Its ultimate value to Twain may have been to turn his imagination to the vernacular American experience and toward his own past, which became the sources of his greatest success.

CONDITION: 

Good condition. In publisher's black boards with gilt front board and spine. Illustrated throughout, with plates and in-text. Minor fading to gilding on spine. Even toning throughout. Scattered foxing. Some edgewear and crushed corners. Binding starting to split lightly in some places. Broken headband.

Dimensions: 8 7/8" H x 6 1/4" W x 2" D.

Accompanied by our company's letter of authenticity.