ROUGHING IT and the INNOCENTS AT HOME by Twain, Mark

With 200 original illustrations by F.A. Fraser. London: George Routledge and Sons, 1882. Original red cloth pictorially decorated in black and lettered in gilt. First Combined UK Edition of this very early Twain title. In February 1872, Routledge published two fragile "yellow-back" Twain volumes -- "ROUGHING IT" (244 pages) around the 10th to 16th, and THE INNOCENTS AT HOME (224 pages) around the 17th to 24th; each was a "copyright edition" because, for copyright purposes, each slightly preceded the (combined) 592-page American edition titled ROUGHING IT. Later in 1872, both Routledge volumes were reissued bound together, though still separately printed and paginated. Beginning with TOM SAWYER in 1876, Chatto & Windus became Twain's UK publisher, and introduced the bright red pictorial binding that would grace Twain's UK works for the next two decades or so. In 1882 (as here), Routledge printed this new profusely-illustrated combined edition (495 pages), in the bright red pictorial cloth binding popularized by Chatto & Windus. This copy is in the uncommon second binding state -- still with the original leaves and the Routledge title page, but with "Chatto & Windus" rather than "Routledge" at the foot of the spine; Routledge was not going out of business, but obviously C&W had taken over the binding and distribution of this title. This is a bright, near-fine copy (spine slightly faded as always, a couple of rear-cover droplet-marks, but very little external wear; occasional light foxing and a few pages with red "bleeding" from the cloth). The early-1880s was the time UK publishers experimented with binding with staples rather than string, and this copy is an unusual instance of a hefty staple-bound book that has held together very well. Blanck 3630 (no mention of copies with C&W on spine, but 3635 constitutes a later combined printing dated 1883); also see 3335 & 3336 & 3599.