THE WRITINGS OF MARK TWAIN - Author's Edition De Luxe (25 Volumes)

London: Chatto & Windus, 1899. Limited Edition. Hardcover. Near Fine. Author's Edition De Luxe, with distinctive ALS by Twain and manuscript pages in different volumes unique to this set - 25 volumes, Volumes I - IV are dated 1899; Volumes V - XXIII 1900; and, Volumes XXIV and XXV dated 1907. (Although all leather spine bindings are dated 19000 at the foot.) Limitation states 620 copies, with 600 for sale in Great Britain but actually 250 printed in the United States with statement of The Hartford Press on the verso of title page, this set #121, signed by Twain as both Twain and Clemens on the limitation page of Volume I. Bound-in at limitation page of Volume I is a one-page ALS (not recorded by McBride) from Twain to American Publishing Company publisher Elisha Bliss ("Friend Bliss") dated Feb 15 (18)75 (from the secretarial notation on the verso) in which Twain discusses copyright for Lotos Leaves in Gill's name, with reference to what Elderkin might do. ("Lotos Leaves" was an anthology of essays, stories and poems by American and British authors and members of the Lotos Club of New York City, published by William H Gill of Boston in 1875; John Elderkin was another contributor to the anthology. Twain contributed the short story "My Hermit".) After that is bound in a leaf from the original manuscript of "A Tramp Abroad" in purple ink with Twain's edits in black ink. In Volume V bound in at limitation page is 2 page facsimile of a letter dated Vienna, Oct 25 (18)97 in which Twain discusses a photograph of him being "pulled around the globe", which we interpret as a facetious commentary on the accompanying photo - which was doctored - of Twain being pulled in a horse- and bull-drawn cart driven by an old African American gentleman and a younger Black boy. In Volume X, "The Gilded Age", bound-in at the limitation page is a leaf from the original manuscript in black ink of that same title.in Twain's hand, followed by another leaf, in purple ink, in the hand of Chas. Dudley Warner, co-author, of the same title. (Each manuscript leaf has before it a hand-lettered identification page in red ink.) The set is uniformly bound in handsome, brown ¾ crushed morocco with 6 compartments in gilt and raised bands to spine, gilt top edge, sides uncut and silk ribbon markers. The internals of the set are well-preserved, absent any imperfection, save an almost imperceptible damp stain shallowly traversing the top and bottom margins of the front and rear signatures of Volume I. The Chatto & Windus title page of each volume - with Clemens' monogram surrounded illustrated references to events in Twain's life - is designed by Tiffany, etched by H.W. Bicknell, with frontispieces and full page text illustrations of many volumes by artists including Dan Beard and Thomas Fogarty. The set has no bookplates or ownership markings.