Mark Twain's Scrap Book

Mark Twain [Samuel L. Clemens]. Mark Twain's Scrap Book. New York: Daniel Slote & Co., 1878. Unknown edition, originally published in 1877 (according to BAL). Publisher and patent registration information (April 23, 1878, also 1873 (U. S.), 1877 (England and France)) printed in black on a label affixed to the front pastedown. Octavo (9.625 x 6.25 inches; 250 x 160 mm.). 50 guarded leaves with adhesive gummed lines pasted onto stubs and paginated by a rubber stamp in the upper corners. Supplied manuscript contents leaves tipped in. Publisher's cloth, green variant, spine and front board stamped in gilt and black, rear board stamped in blind; rear paste down with an expanding pocket ("patent applied for"). Boards lightly rubbed with just a touch of soiling to the rear; spine ends and corners bumped and worn with some fraying and minor tears. Hinges partially cracked but still holding, small area of bruising to the front pastedown where a label was apparently removed; multiple previous ownership signatures and inscriptions on the front free endpaper; page edges worn, a few minor interior holes, caused by user error. Very good. "Not a literary production but a scrapbook invented by Clemens" (BAL). Nearly full of contemporary newspaper clippings, just pages 92-95 mostly empty; content appears to be mostly poetry and humor. Two manuscript notes laid in to rear pocket. BAL 3614 (1877 edition). (#10164).