[Samuel L. Clemens, association]. Zadok Cramer [editor]. The Navigator. Containing Directions for Navigating the M...

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Samuel Clemens' Copy, Signed by Him

[Samuel L. Clemens, association]. Zadok Cramer [editor]. The Navigator. Containing Directions for Navigating the Monongahela, Allegheny, Ohio, and Mississippi Rivers; with an Ample Account of These Much Admired Waters, from the Head of the Former to the Mouth of the Latter; And A Concise Description of Their Towns, Villages, Harbours, Settlements, &c. With Accurate Maps of the Ohio and Mississippi. To which is added, an Appendix, containing an Account of Louisiana, and of The Missouri and Columbia Rivers, as Discovered by the Voyage under Captains Lewis and Clarke. Pittsburgh: Cramer, Spear & Eichbaum, 1811.

Seventh edition, improved and enlarged. The book's previous owner was Samuel Clemens (aka Mark Twain) who signed the front pastedown and wrote the name of the friend who had given him this book. " S. L. Clemens / 1909/ from Col. A. G. Paine." Twelvemo (4.125 x 6.075 inches; 103 x 175 mm). x, [1, map], [1, blank], 295, [1, errata], [4, blank] pages. With twenty-eight integral woodcut river maps.

Contemporary quarter brown sheep over marbled boards. Title stamped in blind on spine, which is ruled in compartments. Boards and spine rubbed, edges and extremities worn, corners rounded. Front outer hinge cracked but firm. Minor marginal dampstaining to outer leaves, extending to title. A 1.5 inch (38 mm) closed tear in the fore-margin of leaf K2. Overall a very good copy with an important association. Housed in a handsome clamshell box of gilt quarter burgundy morocco over marbled boards.

Mark Twain wrote a letter to friend J. H. Twichell on July 28, 1901 in which he described a boating trip on which he was about to embark: "Aug. 3rd. I go yachting a fortnight up north in a 20-knot boat 225 feet long, with the owner, (Mr. Rogers), Tom Reid, Dr. Rice, Col. A. G. Paine and one or two others. Judge Howland would go, but can't get away from engagements; Professor Sloan would go, but is in the grip of an illness. Come - will you go? If you can manage it, drop a post-card to me c/o H. H. Rogers, 26 Broadway. I shall be in New York a couple of days before we sail - July 31 or Aug. 1, perhaps the latter,-and I think I shall stop at the Hotel Grosvenor, cor. 10th st. and 5th ave. We all send you and the Harmonies lots and gobs of love. Mark."

This copy of The Navigator seems a fitting gift from paper manufacture and friend A. G. Paine as Clemens was once a steamboat pilot on the Mississippi river. The Navigator is the first navigational guide to the Mississippi and Ohio rivers and was the most widely used guide to the western waters at that time.

Howes C-855. Sabin 17385.