A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court: as "A Yankee in King Arthur's Court" on the front covers

A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court (the front cover has the title "A Yankee in King Arthur's Court") by Mark Twain pen name of Samuel Clemens Hardcover First Edition - First Printing - Second State New York: Charles L. Webster & Co., 1889. Illustrated by Daniel Carter Beard (although appears to be uncredited) NOTE: Webster published "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn" four years earlier.

Issue Points: Dark green pictorial cloth boards, original copyright 1889 stated on both the title page and the copyright page, Samuel Clemens named as the copyright holder, measures about 8.5" x 7", more or less a quarto. [16 prelims] 575 numbered pages, Speckled end-papers, frontispiece flanking the title page, but no half-title to the recto of the frontis, lacks "S" ornament on page 59 (first state copies have an "S" between "The" and "King" underneath the illustration), and two unnumbered pages (i.e. one leaf) of ads at the back. Particularly the lack of "S" on p. 59 and the lack of a half-title indicate this copy is a second state of the first edition.

Collation and Condition: End-papers, blank sheet, i. blank, ii. Frontispiece, iii. Title Page, iv. Copyright page, v-viii. Contents, ix- xiv. List of Illustrations, xv. Preface 17-23. A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court: A Word of Explanation, 25. Tale of the Lost Land, 27-575. Main text beginning with Chapter I. Last page 575 (576 unnumbered blank), two pages of ads, blank, end-papers.

Condition: A Near Fine copy overall, or at worst Very Good++. The binding and hinges are holding well and most of the pages are clean with only the typical age-toning. A former owner name is stamped on the inside of the front board, relatively unnoticeable. The paper used for this edition is not of the highest quality even for the time. It has three small tears no more than an inch long, repaired with archival adhesive, one at one of the blanks before the frontis and title page, one at the copyright page, and one page 394. None enter into the text. If you purchase this book, be VERY CAREFUL when turning the pages to avoid tearing. The binding is definitely in above-average condition with only slight fraying to the top and bottom spine and at the corners, common with this book.

The book was inspired by "Le Morte d'Arthur" by Sir Thomas Mallory (1485) regarded as the first book of the adventures of King Arthur and his knights of the Round Table in prose, and possibly a children's edition of the same book re-titled "The Boy's King Arthur". Twain credits his friend George Washington Cable, a fellow American novelist, who recommended he read the book by Malory after spotting a copy at an NY bookshop. (I assume it wasn't one of the copies printed by William Caxton as only one copy survives of the first edition!)

NOTE: The pictures are of the actual item for sale. (The pictures are NOT stock photos.)

IMPORTANT NOTE: All sales are generally FINAL. I do NOT accept returns because of buyer's remorse, "it was a gift but the recipient already had it", or "I found the same book at a better price". I do not base my pricing on other retailers' offerings as each book is priced considering both edition and condition. Returns are only accepted in the remote possibility discrepancies regarding edition and/or condition were not fulling described, of which I try to be very thorough in researching the edition/printing as well as describing ALL condition issues. So make sure you're 100% positive you desire one of my items before making a purchase.