Life on the Mississippi

First edition. 8vo. xxvi, 561, [3], 32 page publisher's catalogue dated 'March, 1883' at rear, as called for by BAL. Decorative red cloth gilt-stamped with oriental style lettering and line drawing of river scene. Patterned leaf endpapers. Frontispiece with tissue guard. With 312 b/w illustrations. True first edition, preceding the American first edition by five days.

Spine discoloured with head and tail somewhat rubbed, board corners gently bumped. Light foxing and tanning to front and rear endpapers. Scattered spotting to top-edge, light soiling to bottom edge, else a sound fresh copy.

An autobiography and travel book combined, detailing Twain's days as a steamboat pilot on the Mississippi river before and after the American Civil War.

[BAL 3410]