Twain book part of auction

FORT RECOVERY - It may not be one-of-a-kind, but a first edition of Mark Twain's "Life on the Mississippi," believed to be one of only 1,500 copies printed, definitely falls under the category of unique.

The illustrated book, published in 1883 by James R. Osgood and Company of Boston, is up for grabs at the One-of-a-Kind Auction set for 5 p.m. Sunday at Fort Recovery Elementary/Middle School, 865 Sharpsburg Road.

The event is a joint effort of the Fort Recovery Historical Society and Project Recovery. Auction proceeds will go toward the upkeep of historical sites in the village.

Paul Heiby of Virginia donated the rare copy of Twain's memoir, said Fort Recovery State Museum Director Nancy Knapke.

Heiby's family is originally from Fort Recovery, Knapke said.

"Their family homestead was a farm just north of Fort Recovery and when they cleaned that out after the last of his relatives died, he found this Mark Twain book there," she said. "For me, it's just positively amazing that he's willing to donate that to us for the benefit. He's such a Fort Recovery supporter and he wants the museums and the history to be promoted."

From her research Knapke learned the book "is absolutely a first edition."

"It has a cloth cover and it has gold imprinting on it. So it's really gorgeous," she said.

Knapke characterized the book's condition as "decent." Copies she's seen online range in price from $800 to over $5,000, she said.

"The value of the book depends so much on the condition," she said. "Ours would certainly not be in pristine condition. The cover is a little wobbly."

Some more damaged copies have detached covers or spines that are detached from the pages.

"Ours is not like that. It's better than that but it's not in what you would call A1 condition, so that affects the value of it," she said. "Ours would have less value than some editions - and we know that going in. However, when you say less value, it might mean $800 as opposed to $5,250."

Highlighting the book's features, Knapke noted it contains an original tailpiece.

"Where the text may end halfway through the page, the bottom of the page, rather than be left blank, would have an illustration and that's called the tailpiece," Knapke explained.

Twain, whose real name was Samuel Clemens, at the time apparently had wanted to be cremated upon his death rather than buried, Knapke said. This was reflected in the tailpiece.

"It shows Mark Twain himself in flames. He's being incinerated," Knapke said. "He shows himself in a fire coming out of an urn with his head above it."

Twain's wife purportedly found the image revolting and it was removed from subsequent printings.

In addition to the Twain book, Heiby donated to the auction a set of seven John Deere books from the early twentieth century that may be of interest to farmers and collectors. The books were originally made available to high schools and colleges, Knapke said.

"They put out these books because they felt that agriculture was changing a lot and that farmers would need to know how to take care of and repair that equipment," she said.

When asked about other unique items up for auction, Knapke pointed to bowls handcrafted by a local artist, a Bob VanTrees painting, a vintage, fully restored Shell Gas pump and a framed window from the old Mary Help of Christians Catholic Church.

The latter item, Knapke, said is the bottom section of a stained glass window with an ornate flower design.

"It's absolutely gorgeous. When the light shines through it, it just kind of takes your breath away," she said.

Also on the auction block will be condo stays at Mystic Dunes and Fort Myers Beach in Florida; a Wyndham Get-a-Way Resort; and tickets to Ohio State University football and basketball games, University of Dayton basketball games, Cincinnati Reds games and the St. Anthony Dinner Theater, among many other outings and packages.

The auction is known for its distinctive or "one-of-a-kind" offerings, Knapke said, adding that cannon balls that had lined the streets in front of the museum in the 1930 and 40s were auctioned off in previous years.

Tickets are $10 and can be purchased at Kaup Pharmacy, from members of the historical society and Project Recovery or at the door on Sunday.

The event, which also will include homemade appetizers and desserts, silent and live auctions and a raffle, boasts the theme "Celebration! Come On!" to recognize the 20th anniversary for the auction and the 75th anniversary of the historical society.

Auction revenue helps pay for general maintenance of properties under care of FRHS, including the museum, blacksmith shop, visitors center, log house, Pioneer Cemetery and other sites.

"There's a lot of places that people have no idea that the historical society is responsible for," Knapke said.