New York and London: Harper & Brothers Publishers, 1906. 1906 at each of the title pages. Volumes I & II of the revered Hillcrest Edition of "The Innocents Abroad, or The New Pilgrims' Progress, Being Some Account of The Steamship Quaker City's Pleasure Excursion to Europe and The Holy Land." Volume I is signed and inscribed by Mark Twain at final blank endpaper prior to frontispiece on contemporaneously set in and adhered bordered slip: "Truly yours, Mark Twain, London, June 1900". This signed slip measuring apprx. 2" x 3" is set directly adjacent to the volume's facsimile inscription: "This is the authorized Uniform Edition of all my books. Mark Twain." Volume I also contains tipped-in message written with fountain pen and is placed adjacent to first blank endpaper. Message is from noted book collector of historical provenance on personal stationery with printed letter-head and address of "24 WEST 50TH STREET". Note appears to say: "Dec. 22/15. Dear Larry, Do me the favor to accept the set of Mark Twain's. And with the set, Bigelow Paine's Life of Twain. The edition is boughten but the "Life," I have had bound myself. There is such a comfort in books! Cordially, J. Gaunt." James Gaunt was a renowned book collector, member of the Grolier Club in New York city, etc. He served as a representative of A. & F. Pears of London for twenty-five years before he retired. He died December 2, 1918 at his home, 24 West 50th Street, in his sixty-fourth year. Gaunt's father was the largest paper manufacturer of his time, and one of the principal backers of the late Cyrus Field in financing the first Atlantic cable. Maroon, tan, brown, and black marble patterned boards, red leather spine wrap with five raised bands, gilt titles in two panels, red leather corners, some edge wear, rub, corner chip. 1906 at spine heel. Matching marble patterned endpapers. Pages very good; attractive toning. Bind good, square; hinges intact. Twain humorously chronicles his "Great Pleasure Excursion" on board the chartered vessel Quaker City - formerly USS Quaker City - through Europe, Egypt, and the Holy Land with a group of American travelers in 1867. It was the best selling of Twain's works during his lifetime. Whe first published, this adventure travel transformed an obscure Western journalist into a national celebrity. The Innocents Abroad was immensely successful and remains one of the most popular tales of travel ever penned. Volume I contains a prefatory twenty-seven page Biographical Criticism by Brander Matthews. An 1899 preface by Twain to the Uniform Edition and the brief original preface. Frontispiece portraits with tissue guard of Twain from 1855 and 1868. Few other illustration plates in each volume by Peter S. Newell. 377 and 446 pages. Insured post.. Signed by Author. First Edition