Life on the Mississippi by Twain, Mark - 1883

James R. Osgood and Company, Boston, 1883. First Edition. Hardcover. Very Good. Signed. First state with tailpiece on page 441 depicting urn, flames, and head of Mark Twain; caption on page 443 reading "St. Louis Hotel". Laid in is a memo note from the Current Literature magazine reading as follows: "Sept. 9, 1889 (to) Samuel L. Clemens Esq.- Dear Sir, Your subscription to Current Literature expires with the Sept. No. We trust you have been sufficiently pleased to favor us with a renewal. No magazine sent beyond the date of expiration. Yours truly, The Current Literature Publishing Co." Written at an angle across the memo, "Continue the subscription for another year", SIGNED "S. L. Clemens" and dated "Sept. 23, 1889". The memo paper is almost tissue thin, was folded and pasted to a heavier grade backing. The note was extracted, folds, tears and chips were repaired, and it is now stabilized with a Japanese paper backing. The Volume: It is half bound in black leather over cloth, has gilt stamped spine lettering and decorations, 5 raised bands, gilt lined borders on front and rear panels; all edges marbled. The volume has undergone restoration to the leather on the spine ends and corners, and the hinges have been reinforced. The gilt is partially rubbed away on the spine ends and the cones are bumped. Most of the spine gilt is in very good condition. The font endpaper has chips on all edges (longest being 1"x 1/8" on the top edge), and except for the reinforced hinges and front endpaper chips, the interior is in excellent condition. The book presents really well.