THE NEW PILGRIM'S PROGRESS. A Book of Travel in Pursuit of Pleasure. The Journey Home

1870. London: John Camden Hotten, n.d.[1870]. 2 preliminary pp undated ads plus an ad for the other volume, plus 24 pp terminal ads dated 1870. Original green cloth on beveled boards.

First English Edition (unauthorized) of the second half of Twain's second book. The 651-page American edition, THE INNOCENTS ABROAD, or The New Pilgrims' Progress (note location of apostrophe), had been published in July 1869. In September-October 1870, John Camden Hotten published the two halves separately (about seven weeks apart) -- using the American title for "The Voyage Out," and the American sub-title for this "The Journey Home." (Hotten's editions were (truncated) pirated; the first authorized edition, by Routledge, would not come out until 1872.) The volume is bound in green sand-grain cloth, with beveled edges; we have also had a copy withOUT beveled edges and with minor differences in the spine gilt and in the blind-stamping on the covers; copies were also issued in wrappers. Condition would be fine except for hairline cracks in the original endpapers; in this condition this is a scarce book. Blanck 3591; McBride p. 8. Housed in a cloth clamshell case with leather label. Provenance: armorial bookplate of Charles Walter Lyon (1803-1874, Staffordshire). (Inventory #: 15662)