UA Book Gift Includes Rare First Edition of Twain’s ‘Huckleberry Finn’ and Slave Narrative from 1800s

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — A significant gift of rare 19th century American books to The University of Alabama Libraries may be able to help turn back the hands of time, so to speak. Similar works were destroyed on campus when the Rotunda — UA’s original library — was burned during the Civil War. This historical fact motivated the owner of the book collection to donate it to the University.

UA recently received more than 100 works of 19th and 20th century American literature in two separate gifts from a donor who has requested anonymity. Fifty-eight works by African-American authors arrived first, followed by some 40 works by major 19th century American writers. Inspiration for the second gift came in part from the history of the University.

“Many of the 19th century works appeared before the Civil War, and the donor wanted to give those to replace the ones burned with the University Rotunda in 1865,” said Dr. Louis Pitschmann, dean of University Libraries.

“In a significant way, this gift will allow us to demonstrate the richness of the University Library prior to the Civil War. Purchasing replacement copies of books lost in the Rotunda fire of 1865 would be beyond our reach financially, and that is what makes these books such an exceptional and welcome gift. Several early editions of works by Ralph Waldo Emerson and Nathaniel Hawthorne, in particular, were very likely lost in the Rotunda fire.

“Another important work included in the gift is a first edition of Mark Twain’s ‘The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn,’ which has been exceptionally well cared for since its publication in 1885 and is in ‘as new’ condition,” Pitschmann said.

Other significant works in the gift include additional first editions of works by Twain: “A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court,” “The Adventures of Tom Sawyer,” “Roughing It,” “The Gilded Age,” and “Life on the Mississippi.”

There is a first edition “The Scarlet Letter” by Nathaniel Hawthorne that is “extremely rare,” Pitschmann added, as well as first editions of Hawthorne’s “The House of Seven Gables” and “The Marble Faun.” Several works by Henry James were also donated.

Prior to donating these volumes, the donor also presented the University Libraries with 58 works by and about African-American writers. Included are works by Zora Neale Hurston and Langston Hughes. That gift also contains two editions of a slave narrative published in 1859 with a handwritten inscription by the author, a free black man who was an associate of Frederick Douglass.

Although a few hundred former slaves published such works in the North, “our inscribed copy is exceedingly rare due to the inscription and author’s signature in his own hand. This copy is a historical artifact as well as an important piece of American history and culture,” Pitschmann said.

“Both gifts represent significant additions to our collections as they contain early editions of works that are major milestones in American literary history,” Pitschmann noted.

These volumes will be housed in the Hoole Special Collections Library, located on the second floor of Mary Harmon Bryant Hall on campus, for use by students, faculty and other researchers.