"The £1,000,000 Bank Note. And Other New Stories" by Mark Twain, frontispiece by Dan Beard, published by Charles L. Webster, New York. '1893' is imprinted on the title page, copyright 1893 by S.L. Clements [Mark Twain]. First edition; First printing. BAL 3436.

A delightful collection of diverse tales, ranging from short stories and personal essays to literary criticism and travel pieces, "The £1,000,000 Bank-Note" gathers together nine works, many of which are now unobtainable elsewhere, that testify to the range of Twain's humor and the breadth of his interests. "The £1,000,000 Bank-Note," one of Twain's best-loved tales, is a wish-fulfillment fantasy in which a bet between two rich English eccentrics catapults a down-and-out clerk from San Francisco into wealth, status and fame in London society. The other pieces range from "Mental Telegraphy," a serious essay reflecting Twain's interest in extrasensory perception, to a tongue-in-cheek "Petition to the Queen of England" for relief from taxes. Readers will also find engaging travel essays, combining autobiographical reminiscence, tall tales, and ruminations on society and culture.

"The £1,000,000 Bank Note"
Mental Telegraphy
A Cure for the Blues
The Enemy Conquered: or, Love Triumphant
About All Kinds of Ships
Playing Courier
A Petition to the Queen of England
A Majestic Fossil

Provenance:
Former owner name, Mrs M.D. Surman?? Is ink-written on the front endpaper, "SIMPSON, CRAWFORD & SIMPSON" is magenta stamped on the title page:

The small dry goods store at 6th Avenue & 19th Street, Manhattan, New York was transformed into the fashionable department store Simpson Crawford & Simpson in the early 1880s. They also pioneered in introducing mannequins in the store windows. During the Belle Epoque, 1880s-1910s, it was New York's finest department store with luxury items aimed at wealthy female consumers to whom price was no object. Simpson, Crawford and Simpson did not affix price tags to their merchandise- doing so would be insulting as it would suggest that perhaps the customer could not afford the item. In 1886, the name of the company was shortened to Simpson & Crawford, however the old established trademark 'Simpson, Crawford & Simpson' remained standing for the highest quality and exclusiveness. The SC&S went out of business in 1914.

US: Priority (c.4-8 days) ----------- $18.50
Canada: Priority (c.2-7 weeks) ------ $36.50
World: Priority (c.2-8 weeks) ------- $46.50

Hard boards, publisher's light grayish-brown cloth, spine and front board lettered in gilt, front board stamped in gilt and black [some wear, browned spine, slightly rounded corners]; 5.1/2” x 7.3/4”; frontispiece inserted and included in the pagination; 260 pages + 9 page publisher’s adds; slightly bumped corner pf the first 15 pages; a few tiny spots, very good condition. See photos.