Description:

SAMUEL L. CLEMENS
(1835 - 1910) "Mark Twain", American author of such classics as The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, Huckleberry Finn, and A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court. Superb A.L.S. on black-bordered mourning letterhead, 1p. 8vo., London, Jan. 29, 1897, to Mr. Collins, in part: "...I am ever so much obliged to you. The reason I have not called to pay any respects is that in our bereavement we have hidden ourselves away until such time as we may be enabled to confront life again & resume relations with our species. This is an explanation - otherwise and apology would be due...". On Dec. 11, 1897 Clemens' oldest brother Orion passed away at the age of 72. Orion (1825-1897) was the first and only Secretary of the Territory of Nevada appointed by Lincoln. He held this post until the mid-1870s, when he moved back to Keokuk and began working as a newspaperman. He then applied his energy to writing an autobiography which grew to 2,000 pages. By 1883, however, he accepted the reality that this voluminous work would never be published. He turned to various and sundry vocations, but continued to receive his main financial support from Clemens. Clemens deeply grieved the loss of his brother, as evinced in this fine letter. Folds, otherwise very good condition. Matted with a copy of the cover of Harper's Magazine from 1900 showing Clemens, and set into a silvered wood frame.

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June 4, 2010 11:00 AM EDT
Stamford, CT, US

Alexander Historical Auctions LLC

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