Sketches, New and Old. By Mark Twain. First Edition, First State. American Publishing Company. Hartford, 1875.

Mark Twain’s Sketches, New and Old, is his greatest short story collection. It contains his most notable stories, including “The Jumping Frog,” “Political Economy,” and “Journalism in Tennessee.” While today Twain’s legacy is largely built upon his novels, it is worth noting that his short stories helped to establish his career. They also situate Twain in the local color literary movement, a deeply American form that relied on short stories, sketches, and diminutive portraits of rural American life. This collection proves Twain’s sharp attention to scene and masterful ability to fit humor into single events and passages. It ranks high among all short story collections from the period.

This first edition, first state is in very good condition. Recased in the original blue cloth, very good with some rubbing, bumping, and soiling to edges. Original endpapers taped in. Text block very good, only rubbing to bottom edge and former owner’s stamp to front endpaper and page 320. First state indicated by repeated footnote on pages 119 and 120 as well as the present errata slip and From “Hospital Days” on page 299.

A scarce first edition of Twain’s Sketches, New and Old.