Search Results: Titles starting with L from Mac Donnell Rare Books

Twain, Mark [Clemens, S. L.] Harte, Bret. THE LECTURES OF BRET HARTE. Brooklyn, New York: Charles Meeker Kozlay, 1909. First edition, limited issue, one of 100 numbered copies. Original flexible tan suede, gilt, uncut. Some splits and chips in spine leather, else a fresh copy of this very delicate binding that owes its survival to pure chance, usually found in shambles or rebound. Even the cloth trade edition is relatively uncommon compared to Harte's earlier first editions. Contains Twain's memorable letter on Hotten. BAL 3510 (Twain) and 7407 (Harte).

Twain, Mark [Clemens, S. L.] LIFE ON THE MISSISSIPPI. Boston: James R. Osgood, 1883. First edition, first state, intermediate state B. Original brown pictorial cloth, gilt. Near fine copy with only minor rubbing at spine ends. Without the illustration of Twain's head in flames at p. 441, but with the caption "St. Louis Hotel" at p. 443. Twain considered this work to be his masterpiece. Chapter 31 contains the first use of fingerprints to solve a crime in fiction, described by Colin Wilson as "a remarkable anticipation of a scientific discovery that was then known to less than half a dozen men." Queen's… Read More

Twain, Mark [Clemens, S. L.] LIFE ON THE MISSISSIPPI. New York: Charles L. Webster, 1891. First edition, intermediate state A (with Twain pictured in flames), the rare Webster issue. Original brown pictorial cloth, gilt. Spine gilt a little dull, mild rubbing, sampstain on rear cover, else a very good tight copy in the rarest form of issue. This copy has the green floral end papers that match A CONNECTICUT YANKEE rather than the plain gray end papers usually seen. The book was first published in 1883 by James R. Osgood who went bankrupt soon after. When Twain started his own publishing firm he put it in the hands of his… Read More

[TWAIN, MARK] [Clemens, S. L.] Lincoln Farm Association. LINCOLN FARM ASSOCIATION CERTIFICATE. [n.p., n.d., printed in 1906; issued 1906-1909] Certificate, 9 1/2 x 12 inches, broadside. A handsome example. An appeal for funds to save Lincoln's birthplace had been sent out in 1906, signed in type by Twain and others. This certificate was sent to those who made donations in response to that initial appeal for funds. This handsome certificate has an engraving of Lincoln at top center (the now familiar portrait that later appeared on the five dollar bill) and contains the facsimile autographs of the original… Read More

Dickens, Charles. LITTLE DORRITT. London: Bradbury & Evans, 1857. First edition, first issue with uncorrected text at pp. 467-74, signature 2B2 misprinted as "B2," etc. Original green cloth, gilt. Variant binding (no priority) with "LONDON MDCCCLVII" in gilt at foot, a variant not noted by Smith, but recorded elsewhere. Plates moderately browned (not foxed); text tight; covers much rubbed and marked, with many creases in spine; spine ends intact. The "octavo novels" have become extremely difficult to find in original cloth in decent condition, and nice copies of this work in this binding fetch five to ten times as much… Read More