1880 – A Tramp Abroad – Mark Twain | First Edition with “Moses” Frontispiece

This Mark Twain novel A Tramp Abroad is a natural extension of ‘The Innocents Abroad’ as a travel narrative, a return to the Old World. As a cultural document, it is also a natural continuation of the great popular movement of tourism, wherein the ‘innocent’ becomes a ‘tramp’.” (Melton,78). This adventure voyages book is not one of Twain’s finer works, as many readers feel he rambles and lacks a sense of direction, but by writing with a sense of ironic prose and satire, “A Tramp Abroad” is still a desirable and recognizable Twain novel.

Twain’s third travel book describing his month-long trip to central and southern Europe in the summer of 1878 with his friend, Reverend Joseph Twitchell.

Bibliographic Details

• Title: A Tramp Abroad
• Author(s): Mark Twain
• Publisher: Hartford, Conn.: American Publishing Co.
• Edition: First Edition, 1880
  • First printing point: “Moses” on frontispiece (later edition’s state “Titian’s Moses”
• Format: (12mo), single volume
• Binding: Hardcover
• Size:  7.25 in x 5 in (18 cm x 12.5 cm)
• Collation: 631 p, [1]
• Illustrations: Illustrated throughout with hundreds of figures
• Contents Include:
  • European Travel Notes and Sketches
  • Episodes with Joseph Twitchell
  • Satirical Observations on German Customs

Condition:

Very Good. Binding secure, with rubbing mainly to corners and hinges. Illustrated cover and spine present and intact. Endpapers and preliminary leaves printed with publisher advertisements. Text block complete, with internal pages showing mild age toning consistent with the period.

Why Collect This?

• Illustrated decorative binding unique to this edition
• First printing with “Moses” as caption on frontispiece

Item Number: #50032