1871 – Mark Twain’s Burlesque Autobiography & First Romance | Illustrated First Edition

A scarce first edition, first printing of Mark Twain’s comedic work entitled, Mark Twain’s (Burlesque) Autobiography and First Romance. A curious collection of two short fictional stories with no connection to Twain’s real life. The first work is a humorous fabrication of Twain’s heritage and the ridiculous characters in his family tree. The second work describes a bizarre fictional struggle for power amongst the nobility in Europe.

This book is famous for its unexpectedly abrupt ending, the inexplicable inclusion of illustrations subtitled with the famous nursery rhyme, ‘The House that Jack Built,’ and Twain’s personal disdain for the book following its publication. Two years after being published, Twain famously purchased the printing plates and destroyed them.

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Mark Twain’s (Burlesque) Autobiography and First Romance
• Author(s): Mark Twain (Samuel Langhorne Clemens)
• Publisher: New York: Sheldon and Company
• Edition: First Edition, 1871
• Binding: Original cloth hardcover
• Format: (12mo), single volume
• Size:  7.75 in x 5.25 in (19.5 cm x 13 cm)
• Collation: 47, [1] pp
• Illustrations: Illustrated throughout
• Contents Include:
  • Mark Twain’s (Burlesque) Autobiography
  • First Romance
• Reference(s): BAL 3326

Condition:

Good. Original cloth binding shows rubbing and surface spotting. The spine remains firm, and the text block is secure. Internal pages are complete, exhibiting moderate age toning. Illustrations are intact and unmarked.

Why Collect This?

• Rare 1871 first edition suppressed by the author
• Distinctive inclusion of nursery rhyme illustrations

Item Number: #50039