The Prince and the Pauper. By Mark Twain. Signed by Clarke Hutton. Signed Limited Edition. Limited Editions Club. New York, 1964.

The Prince and the Pauper showcases a stark contrast from Mark Twain’s earlier works. It is still a boy’s tale rife with humor and adventure, but it is also Twain’s first published foray into historical fiction. Set in sixteenth century England, The Prince and the Pauper describes the life of Tom Canty, a poor young fellow who by chance becomes friends with Prince Edward. The pair quickly realize they share an uncanny resemblance, and so they decide to swap identities, if only for a time. First published in 1881, the work was marketed as children’s fiction but saw fairly widespread popularity across ages. It was published in between Twain’s other great works, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, during some of his most celebrated and productive years. Readers continue to adore The Prince and the Pauper, and artists, filmmakers, and authors continue to adapt its identity-swap premise. This signed limited edition is a fine example of the story’s timelessness. It contains wonderful full color plates by Clarke Hutton, the brilliant English lithographer and illustrator.

This signed limited edition is signed by Hutton on the colophon. It is #451 of 1,500 copies. It is in near-fine condition. In the original quarter velvet, fine. Text block fine. In the original slipcase, about-fine with only minor soiling and rubbing.

A scarce LEC edition of The Prince and the Pauper.