by Mark Twain
PARTIAL BIBLIOGRAPHY
The various printings of 1601 reveal how Mark Twain's 'FiresideConversation' has become a part of the American printer's lore. But moreimportant, its many printings indicate that it has become a popular bitof American folklore, particularly for men and women who have a feelingfor Mark Twain. Apparently it appeals to the typographer, who devotes toit his worthy art, as well as to the job printer, who may pull a crudelyprinted proof. The gay procession of curious printings of 1601 is uniquein the history of American printing.
Indeed, the story of the various printings of 1601 is almost legendary.In the days of the "jour." printer, so I am told, well-thumbed copieswere carried from print shop to print shop. For more than a quartercentury now it has been one of the chief sources of enjoyment forprinters' devils; and many a young rascal has learned about life fromthis Fireside Conversation. It has been printed all over the country,and if report is to be believed, in foreign countries as well. Becauseof the many surreptitious and anonymous printings it is exceedinglydifficult, if not impossible, to compile a complete bibliography. Manyprintings lack the name of the publisher, the printer, the place or dateof printing. In many instances some of the data, through the patientquestioning of fellow collectors, has been obtained and supplied.
1. [Date, 1601.] Conversation, as it was by the Social Fireside, in theTime of the Tudors.
DESCRIPTION: Pamphlet, pp. [ 1 ]-8, without wrappers or cover, measuring7x8 inches. The title is Set in caps. and small caps.
The excessively rare first printing, printed in Cleveland, 1880, at theinstance of Alexander Gunn, friend of John Hay. Only four copies arebelieved to have been printed, of which, it is said now, the only knowncopy is located in the Willard S. Morse collection.
2. Date 1601. Conversation, as it was by the Social Fireside, in thetime of the Tudors.
(Mem.--The following is supposed to be an extract from the diary of thePepys of that day, the same being cup-bearer to Queen Elizabeth. It issupposed that he is of ancient and noble lineage; that he despises theseliterary canaille; that his soul consumes with wrath to see the Queenstooping to talk with such; and that the old man feels his nobilitydefiled by contact with Shakespeare, etc., and yet he has got to staythere till Her Majesty chooses to dismiss him.)
DESCRIPTION: Title as above, verso blank; pp. [i]-xi, text; verso p. xiblank. About 8 x 10 inches, printed on handmade linen paper soaked inweak coffee, wrappers. The title is set in caps and small caps.
COLOPHON: at the foot of p. xi: Done Att Ye Academie Preffe; M DCCC LXXXII.
The privately printed West Point edition, the first printing of the textauthorized by Mark Twain, of which but fifty copies were printed. Thestory of this printing is fully told in the Introduction.
3. Conversation As It Was By The Social Fire-side In The Time Of TheTudors from Ye Diary of Ye Cupbearer to her Maisty Queen Elizabeth.[design] Imprinted by Ye Puritan Press At Ye Sign of Ye Jolly Virgin1601.
DESCRIPTION: 2 blank leaves; p. [i] blank, p. [ii] fronds., p. [iii]title [as above], p. [iv] "Mem.", pp. 1-[25] text, I blank leaf. 4 3/4by 6 1/4 inches, printed in a modern version of the Caxton black lettertype, on M.B.M. French handmade paper. The frontispiece, a woodcut by A.E. Curtis, is a portrait of the cup-bearer. Bound in buff-greyboards, buckram back. Cover title reads, in pale red ink, Caxton type,Conversation As It Was By The Social Fire-side In The Time Of TheTudors. [The Byway Press, Cincinnati, Ohio, 1901, 120 copies.]
Probably the first published edition.
Later, in 1916, a facsimile edition of this printing was published inChicago from plates.
