The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County, and Other Sketches
New York: C.H. Webb, 1867. First Edition. 198pp. Duodecimo [17.5] Beveled brown boards with the title gilt stamped on the front board and backstrip. A jumping frog is gilt stamped on the front board and blind stamped on the rear board. Contemporary inscription on the tipped in front free endsheet with advertisement on the verso. Discreetly rebacked with the original backstrip laid over. First edition with unbroken type on pages 21, 61 and 198 and the inserted advertisement at the front. Item #8105
Perhaps no short sketch of Twain's so quickly won wide popularity as did 'The Jumping Frog.' Calaveras County, California, is known to thousands who have never seen the Golden State simply because of this gem of humor. This little volume, the author's first published book, came into being under the sponsorship of Charles Henry Webb - who also edited it under his pseudonym of 'John Paul.' To accompany 'The Jumping Frog' he chose twenty-six other sketches. Zamorano 17. Wheat Books 43. Cowan p.49. BAL 3310.
Price: $8,000.00