MARK TWAIN Burger King Glasses Set Celebrating His Elvira NY 150th Anniversary

Description

Up for sale is a 1985 set of Elmira, New York drinking glasses which celebrate the 150th Anniversary of the birth of Samuel Langhorne Clemens, known by his pen name Mark Twain.
In Mark Twain's day, Elmira was booming and townsfolk considered the rough and boisterous Sam Clemens to have married "above his station" into the family of wealthy coal dealer Jervis Langdon. Twain spent about 20 summers in Elmira, writing "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn," "The Prince and the Pauper," "Life on the Mississippi," and parts of other books, including "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer."
For the 150th anniversary of Twain's birth, the city created a number of products and events to celebrate his anniversary (and attract tourists). The community had a parade, a raft race, a tall-tales contest and even a Mark Twain Festival of Cats in honor of the author's love of felines.
Burger King produced this commemorative set of tumblers as part of the celebration. They come in the original box . . . marked "Burger King Mark Twain Festival Summer 1985". The glasses are 4 different scenes with a description on the backs of each glass. They are pictures of Tom Sawyer, Huckleberry Finn, the Log Cabin and Mark Twain. They tell of Mark Twain being from Elmira, New York.
Each glass stands about 6 inches tall. The original storage/display box definitely shows shelf/storage wear. The glasses themselves are in excellent shape, vibrant color with no chips or cracks. Very heavy to mail thus the high shipping for this set.
The four are as follows:
A portrait of Mark Twain with Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn looking on. "Mark Twain Country" Series 1985" above a Burger King logo on the reverse. Above the logo is information about Mark Twain's 150th birthday, November 30, 1985.
Image of Huck Finn with his gun and a rabbit. "Mark Twain Country" Series 1985" above a Burger King logo on the reverse. Above the logo is information about the Huck Finn book.
Image of Mark Twain's study. "Mark Twain Country" Series 1985" above a Burger King logo on the reverse. Above the logo is information about Twain's octagonal study in New York.
Image of Tom Sawyer sitting on the river bank with his fishing pole. "Mark Twain Country" Series 1985" above a Burger King logo on the reverse. Above the logo is information about Tom.
Funny how Elmira views Mark Twain a bit differently these days. Twain was considered a "shaggy dog" when he spent summers in Elmira . . . he was seen as a bushy-browed fellow who would shoot pool and trade yarns at Klapproth's Cafe, then go up to the Elmira Reformatory and talk with inmates.