"Gilded Age. A Tale of To-Day" by Mark Twain, published by American Publishing Company, Hartford, "Sold by Subscription Only", 1874. [BAL 3359]. Early state of the first printing (the errors were corrected during the printing run. In this particular copy, only a few errors are already corrected, but most of them are not). Appearing at the end of 1873, some copies carry an 1873 date, but most are dated 1874, including most of the 60 advance review copies. Copies with the earliest states of the text are found with both 1873 and 1874 title pages.

Several errors were corrected during the run of the first printing. Points of the early state in this particular copy:

4 blank pages instead of ads at the end, [exceptionally rare]
Artist "White" on the title page.
Lockwood Electrotyper is present on the copyright page
Page VII: 'Chapter V' has 'Eschol Sellers' instead of 'Beriah Sellers'

Page 246: "Hallelujah" not followed by comma
Page 280: "Dr. Jackson." instead of "Dr. Jackson,"
No illustration on page 403
2nd state: without the repetition on 351/352 and 352/353.
Final illustration listed as '211 Alice'

Hard boards, original leather with labels on spine [leather crease between front board and spine, boards are attached, spine leather repair: see photo]; 6" x 9"; salmon color endpapers, 'M.E. Hurst, January [?] 21 /74' is pencil written on the first blank page, xvi + 574 pages + one page 'Appendix' + 4 blank pages instead of ads, 211 illustrations, the 29" long fold-out map at p. 246 is present [wear and repaired creases]. Very little wear, very good condition.

Twain's first novel, co-authored by his friend and neighbor Charles Dudley Warner. After the issue of this novel "Gilded Age" become a description of the 'Post-Grant' era of American History. The novel tells an epic story of Colonel Sellers and the Hawkins family in their relentless and convoluted pursuit of wealth, and their concept of wealth as a worthy end in itself. Wealth eludes them, often with tragic results...

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