Salesman’s dummy for Following the Equator
Author: Mark Twain (PSUED Samuel Langhorne Clemens) [1835-1910]
Year: 1897
Publisher: American Publishing Company
Place: Hartford
Description:
Royal octavo (9 1/4" x 6") The front cover of the dummy is identical to the published book, while the text consists of a few pages from the book (mostly those pages with illustrations). Since the sample is slenderer than the finished book, the spine samples—in publisher’s morocco and “long-grain” leather library-style—are instead tipped onto the front pastedown and printed on the back cover. At the back of the volume are 16 leaves of ruled paper with the headings: “Subscribers’ Names,” “Residences,” and “Style of Binding.” These were intended to be filled with orders, in this copy 7 names listed. First issue with title page with single imprint.
Dating back to the mid-nineteenth century, publishers produced what has been commonly known as “salesman samples” or “dummies”. Booksellers used these samples in their door-to-door sales to entice customers and create interest in soon-to-be published titles. These sample books promoted the virtues of the publisher’s offerings, such as elaborate illustrations, or the use of high quality inks, stylish typefaces, durable paper, and/or in some cases, the choice of binding styles and cloth. Ruled sheets were placed at the back of the volume to record sales transactions and the name and address of the subscriber. A prospectus sheet was often found at the beginning to help coach the salesman on the big sales-pitch.
Condition:
Corners bumped, some light rubbing to extremities else very good.
