The Gilded Age. by TWAIN, Mark - 1874[3]: A tale of today. Fully illustrated from new designs, by Hoppin, Stephens, Williams, White, etc etc.

Hartford: American Publishing Company,, 1874[3]. First edition, with the majority of BAL's early points, excepting the duplicate lines on pp. 351-3. The Gilded Age is noted "for its biting satire of political thievery, postbellum glitter, and topicalities major and minor. Its title would achieve a generic (in this case, historical) currency", providing a name for the era (ANB). This is a notably attractive example. This edition was published simultaneously in the US and the UK in order to protect the copyright. This copy has the following issue points: "Eschol" under heading for Chapter V in contents table, at running head of p. 27, at p. 247, line 7 from the bottom, and at p. 355, line 1 and 5 from the bottom; p. xvi the final illustration numbered 211; fold out at p. 246; "Hallelujah" with no terminal comma to line 5 from bottom at p. 246; p. 280, line 18, period after "Dr. Jackson."; p. 403, no illustration, however, with the duplicate lines called for in BAL on pp. 351-3 corrected, as in later issues. Octavo. Original black cloth BAL's C cloth variant, titles and decoration to spine in gilt, titles to front cover within ring vignette in gilt, frames blocked in blind to covers, publisher's vignette in blind to rear cover, pale brown endpapers. No terminal adverts. Ownership inscription dated December 1873 to first blank, "first issue of 1st edition, published Dec 11 1973. Has no illustration on page 403 - Has Hartford imprint 1897 only on title page" in manuscript to front pastedown. Bookplate of John Gribbel and Byron Price to front endpapers. Neat repair to head of spine. Minor rubbing to board edges, gilt to cloth remarkably bright, slight tape marks to endpapers, a lovely copy in very good condition. BAL 3357.