First published in 1889, Mark Twain’s A Yankee at the Court of King Arthur (famously known in America as A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court) is a landmark work of science fiction and social satire. By sending a pragmatic 19th-century mechanic back to the Age of Chivalry, Twain created the blueprint for the time-travel genre. The novel is a complex exploration of progress, technology, and the inherent flaws of human institutions. While it begins as a high-stakes comedy of Hank Morgan "modernizing" Camelot with electricity and newspapers, it eventually devolves into a dark, prophetic critique of industrial warfare—suggesting that technology without moral evolution leads only to more efficient destruction.
Edition: First U.K. Edition, Later State (1890).
Publisher: Chatto & Windus, London.
Binding: Original red cloth with decorative stamping. The book is in Fair condition.
Condition Points: The spine exhibits a significant tilt, and the boards show staining, rubbing, and bumping consistent with its age. Bibliographic Note: The Chatto & Windus catalogue at the back is dated Sept. 1894, identifying this as a later printing of the 1890 first U.K. edition sheets.
Provenance: Despite external wear, the internal pages remain clean and intact. Notably, the hinges are not splitting, which is an exceptional finding for a nineteenth-century Chatto & Windus volume of this weight.
The British first edition, released under the title A Yankee at the Court of King Arthur, is a distinct collectible compared to its American counterpart. While this copy shows honest fatigue to the exterior, its structural integrity—specifically the firm hinges—makes it a superior "reading copy" or a perfect acquisition for a collector who appreciates the publishing history of Twain’s international success. The inclusion of the 1894 catalogue provides a fascinating snapshot of Victorian publishing cycles, making it a worthy addition to the "Curious Copies" collection.
First published in 1889, Mark Twain’s A Yankee at the Court of King Arthur (famously known in America as A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court) is a landmark work of science fiction and social satire. By sending a pragmatic 19th-century mechanic back to the Age of Chivalry, Twain created the blueprint for the time-travel genre. The novel is a complex exploration of progress, technology, and the inherent flaws of human institutions. While it begins as a high-stakes comedy of Hank Morgan "modernizing" Camelot with electricity and newspapers, it eventually devolves into a dark, prophetic critique of industrial warfare—suggesting that technology without moral evolution leads only to more efficient destruction.
Edition: First U.K. Edition, Later State (1890).
Publisher: Chatto & Windus, London.
Binding: Original red cloth with decorative stamping. The book is in Fair condition.
Condition Points: The spine exhibits a significant tilt, and the boards show staining, rubbing, and bumping consistent with its age. Bibliographic Note: The Chatto & Windus catalogue at the back is dated Sept. 1894, identifying this as a later printing of the 1890 first U.K. edition sheets.
Provenance: Despite external wear, the internal pages remain clean and intact. Notably, the hinges are not splitting, which is an exceptional finding for a nineteenth-century Chatto & Windus volume of this weight.
The British first edition, released under the title A Yankee at the Court of King Arthur, is a distinct collectible compared to its American counterpart. While this copy shows honest fatigue to the exterior, its structural integrity—specifically the firm hinges—makes it a superior "reading copy" or a perfect acquisition for a collector who appreciates the publishing history of Twain’s international success. The inclusion of the 1894 catalogue provides a fascinating snapshot of Victorian publishing cycles, making it a worthy addition to the "Curious Copies" collection.
