[Literature] Twain, Mark (Samuel L. Clemens). The Writings

Hartford, Conn: The American Publishing Company, 1899-1903. In 23 volumes. Autograph Edition, #122/512 copies, signed by Twain: "SL. Clemens / (Mark Twain)". 8vo. Illustrated with frontispiece and engraved title-page (designed by Tiffany & Co., and etched by W.H.W. Bicknell), and numerous plates and photogravures throughout set, each with captioned tissue guards. With 18 plates signed by the artist, including Peter Newell, T. de Thulstrup, Frederick Dielman, B. West Clinedinst, E.H. Garrett, J.G. Brown, Karl Gerhardt, Charles Noel Flagg, E.W. Kemble, F.M. Senior, F.T. Merrill, Dan Beard, Francis V. DuMond, F.B. Opper, A.B. Frost, J. Allen St. John, C.D. Weldon, and F. Luis Mora. First volume signed by Brander Matthews, author of the introduction, Biographical Criticism; Volume X signed by Chase Dudley Warner, Twain's friend and co-author of The Gilded Age. Three-quarter green morocco over marbled paper-covered boards, stamped in gilt, boards and spines unevenly browned; front board of Vol. VII detached but holding; Volume XXII spine and rear board starting; front board of Vol. XV detached but holding; Volume XXIII front board detached but holding; upper spine of Vol. II starting; repairs to joints and spine of Vol. VI; spine ends variously chipped; scratch along spine of Vol. XIX; joints and extremities rubbed and lightly to moderately worn; some spines dry; top edges gilt, other edges untrimmed; matching marbled endpapers. BAL 3456

Scarce signed set of the collected writings of Mark Twain. The first 23 volumes were published by The American Publishing Company, and later, in 1907, by Harper & Brothers who published volumes 24 and 25 "as an accommodation to purchasers of earlier volumes with a view to making their sets uniform."

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Darren Winston, Senior Vice President at Freeman’s, has served as Head of Department for Books & Manuscripts, Philadelphia, since 2018. He has been a trustee of the Rosenbach Museum and Library since 2022, is a member of The Manuscript Society, The Bibliographical Society of America, and Philadelphia’s Philobiblon Club.

Raised in northern New Jersey, Darren moved to New York City in 1988 and began his career there as a bookseller in 1995. He spent the next 18 years selling to private clients and at East Coast book fairs. In 2003 he moved with his young family to Sharon, Connecticut where, in 2009, he opened his own bookshop. Darren Winston, Bookseller offered rare and vintage books, prints, fine art, and more, and hosted over 50 book signings and art shows. He was a trustee and, later, Board President, of the Sharon Historical Society, and for six years a trustee of Indian Mountain School in Lakeville, Connecticut.

Darren has hosted the radio program "Darren Winston's Book Report" for NPR-affiliate WHDD since 2009, appeared in the 2014 book-themed documentary The Paper Trail, and in 2024 he joined Antiques Roadshow as a books and manuscripts appraiser. From 1999 to 2005, Darren was the buyer and consultant to the Fine and Rare Books Department at Asprey, the British luxury goods company, at its New York headquarters. While there he spearheaded various in-store events including readings by Salman Rushdie and Dominick Dunne.

In 1993, Darren was hired as a Creative Consultant to Columbia Records, where he assisted in the repackaging of their 12-record Aerosmith back catalogue. He later sold his extensive collection of Aerosmith memorabilia, which he began amassing at the age of 14, directly to the band.

Darren now lives on the Main Line, outside Philadelphia, with his wife, two children, and dog. The family travels frequently to his wife's native England and Scotland. When not bookselling, he plays guitar in Pumped, an Aerosmith tribute band. Darren also appears on the top-rated PBS television program Antiques Roadshow.

Books and Manuscripts

[Literature] Twain, Mark (Samuel L. Clemens). The Writings

Books and Manuscripts

[Literature] Twain, Mark (Samuel L. Clemens). The Writings

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