The book has the two full page frontispiece illustrations and six other full page illustrations with the text--as called for.
This book is all original, but has been restored to a certain extent. Unfortunately, Mark Twain’s books that were published by his subscription publisher, American Publishing Company, while lavishly illustrated and looking rather imposing when new, were actually very cheaply bound. Fine copies of Twain’s early books by this publisher are rare. He was by far the most famous American author of the time and most copies of this book are well read and passed around; falling apart, faded, tattered and missing pieces--spines, titlepages, illustrations and even the boards. This book, which I consider one of his most entertaining and interesting, can not only be read without worrying about the pages coming out in your hands, but it will look great on your shelf too. It is a great feeling to be able to read an original historical artifact just as Twain’s readers in 1872 would have enjoyed it--with all the illustrations.
ROUGHING IT is Twain's 1872 first-person, semi-fictional travel narrative of his youthful trip west in 1862 and of a later one, in 1866, to Hawaii. ROUGHING IT has been described as one of the best books on the old west ever written. (#18 of The Zamorano 80: A Selection of Distinguished California Books Made by Members of the Zamorano Club, #4 of Jeff Dykes “My Ten Most Outstanding Books on the West.) It was his second subscription book (after 1869’s Innocents Abroad) and only the 3rd published book (if you don’t count his odd little “Burlesque Autobiography and First Romance”.
In 1862 with his job gone and Mississippi river traffic shut down because of the Civil War, Sam Clemens decides to travel west with his brother Orion, who has been appointed Secretary of Nevada territory. Twain’s legendary wit endows his observations and descriptions of the six week stage coach trip with satire and even hilarity. Twain devotes two chapters to Joseph Alfred "Jack" Slade, the notorious frontiersman who had no qualms about taking the law in his own hands, executing rustlers, crooked ranchers, and other outlaws in order to clean up the cattle country. He describes his encounter with Slade in Wyoming.
My favorite section is his stop in Salt Lake City, with several chapters devoted to the Mormons, Brigham Young, and Salt Lake. His facetious defense of polygamy (after seeing some of the women involved) is hilarious.
In Nevada, Twain famously makes an unfortunate purchase--a horse, "a Genuine Mexican Plug,” after admiring and hoping to emulate the horsemanship of the Californians and Mexicans. He discusses his life as a miner, becomes a “millionaire” briefly, lives a bohemian life in San Francisco and, takes trip to the Sandwich Islands (Hawaii) as a roving correspondent for the Sacramento Union. He also describes his first time as a lecturer in California; the lectures took him from locally known journalist to nationally known author and lecturer.
Like most all of Twain’s early subscription books, this one is heavily illustrated by “eminent artists.” There are 570 of them! They truly add to the story and are humorous in their own right.
DESCRIPTION:
9 x 6 inches---592 pagesFirst edition/first state Hardcover
CONDITION:
This book is in original condition with significant restoration. Authentic and archival materials have been used throughout--non acidic glues and pastes, nonacidic papers for reinforcing, etc. The book is complete and original with all pages and illustrations present.
This book was originally in fragile condition--”shaken” or weak binding, shot hinges, worn edges and a few damaged internal pages. However, the interior was mostly clean and without major tears.
The textblock was rebound into the original cover using new cloth spine reinforcing (instead of the original cheap mesh mull). The original cloth spine was rebacked with cloth. The book’s corners and edges have been repaired with matching old book cloth. The cloth is generally clean and shows only light soil.
There is the original owner’s name on the front endpaper. Several pages at the front of the book were loose and had tattered edges. These have been reattached to the book and have the edges reinforced with acid-free paper used in conservation. There are pictures provided of all of these pages. All other pages in this book are complete, clean and intact. They are toned with age, but most are in better than average condition with little foxing and no tearing or smudges.
The book will come protected with a custom slip case made just for this book and a clear mylar jacket.
The slip case was constructed of acid-free materials, book cloth outside—tough wallpaper inside, and is lined around the front edges with genuine leather. It is heavy-duty and should last for many years. The vignettes on the side of the slip case—a cloth portrait of Twain taken in the late 1860s —around the time most of the stories in the book take place, and one carved leather bucking horse. The title on the back of the slipcase is taken from the book’s spine and allows you to turn the book around on the shelf so that the book’s spine is not exposed to light.
BECAUSE MEDIA RATE SHIPPING IS FREE ON THE BOOKS I SELL, COMBINE THIS WITH OTHER ITEMS FROM MY EBAY STORE.
I AM AN EXPERIENCED EBAY SELLER (23+ YEARS) AND SHIPPER WITH 100% (always!--since 1997!) FEEDBACK RATING.
ALL ITEMS ARE CAREFULLY AND SECURELY PACKED TO REDUCE OR ELIMINATE DANGER OF CRUSHING AND OR WATER/MOISTURE DAMAGE. ALL BOOKS ARE SHIPPED IN STURDY BOXES WITH TRACKING AND DELIVERY CONFIRMATION INCLUDED.
I PERSONALLY GUARANTEE ALL OF THE BOOKS, AUTOGRAPHS AND SIGNATURES ON BOOKS I SELL.
