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The Stuart and Mimi Rose Collection /

Mark Twain

Item 13D

Huckleberry Finn

1885
First American Edition
Likely First Copy Issued
Presentation Copy

This copy of Huckleberry Finn was the first printed copy to arrive in Mark Twain’s hands, which he then dedicated to his wife, Olivia, also called Livy: “with the matured and perfect love of the author Mark Twain.” Twain tells his story from the point of view of Huck Finn, a teenager barely able to read and write who fakes his own death in order to escape his abusive, drunken father. Huck encounters a runaway slave named Jim, and the two embark on a raft journey down the Mississippi River. The novel is an often-scathing satire on entrenched attitudes, particularly racism and freedom, and for these reasons is sometimes seen as a controversial text when assigned to high school students.

Open book displaying the title page of
A book page bears the signature,
An open book with an inscription on the right-hand page. The handwritten note reads:
Illustration of a person wearing a broad-brimmed hat and loose clothing climbing a window. They are facing away, with knees bent, one leg more than the other. The caption beneath reads,

What will you discover next?

Apollo 11 Flight Plan Flown to the Moon
A detailed, typed chart titled

Travel and discovery over great distances?

Go To Item 3E

Frederick Douglass Narrative
Sepia-toned historical illustration of Frederick Douglass in a book. He is depicted in a suit with a bow tie, seated, looking forward. The page is aged and discolored, with visible spots. The name

The perspective and experiences of a Black writer?

Go To Item 12B

Return to Rose Collection
A vibrant, symmetrical collage features historical black-and-white photographs of three individuals encircled with colorful floral patterns. The background is filled with intricate designs of butterflies and geometric shapes in shades of teal, coral, and beige.

Return to the Rose Collection

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