1897 1st edition, Following the Equator, Mark Twain. 1st state. American Publishing Company, Hartford Conn..

1st edition (1st state) of Following the Equator, a travelogue (narrative of his travels) published by Mark Twain in 1897.

Twain was practically bankrupt in 1894 due to investing heavily into the failed Paige Compositor. In an attempt to extricate himself from debt of $100,000 (equivalent of about $2.5 million in 2010) he undertook a tour of the British Empire in 1895 at age 60, a route chosen to provide numerous opportunities for lectures in English.

The book is a social commentary, critical of racism towards blacks, Asians, and Indigenous groups; oppressive imperialism in the British Empire; and religious intolerance through missionary efforts.

Although this social commentary is the great import of the book, it is notable that Twain also included a number of fictional stories in the body of what is otherwise a non-fiction work. In particular, the story of how Cecil Rhodes made his fortune -- by finding a newspaper in the belly of a shark -- and the story of how a man named Ed Jackson made good in life out of a fake letter of introduction to Cornelius Vanderbilt.


Physical Attributes -

Measures approx. 23 x 15.5 x 4.5 cm.. Cloth covered hardcover with central elephant decoration to front board and gilt decoration to spine. Illustrated. Single publisher listed on title page, title page and copyright page match date (1897) and there is an "11" signature mark at the bottom of page 161 (BAL 3451).

712 numbered pages.

Condition -

See pictures. Vintage patina. Rubbing to all edges and joints. Rubbing marks to boards, especially front (see picture). Rear hinge feels a little shaken, and it has started at top of hinge (although outer joint is still good); this is common to this book, because it has many pages. Bottom of front hinge has started too, although separating between flyleaf and 1st blank endpaper.

Some foxing spots throughout and on text block edges. Occasional edge of paper chip and tear, dog eared pages, etc.. Some toning to pages. Frontis and title page heavily foxed, probably due to tissue (still in place). Pencil marks on rear flyleaf verso. Not a perfect copy, but not water-stained, and the boards are still on it (which is more than can be said for many that are for sale).