Advertisements, Prefaces, and Contracts
We have reprinted here a variety of collateral documents—contracts, advertisements, and prefaces—which bear upon Mark Twain's sketchbooks and plans for sketchbooks. They are arranged by title, and the titles are ordered chronologically. The mnemonic abbreviations are those used in the textual introduction and defined in the description of texts. Canceled words are enclosed in angle brackets.
The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County, And other Sketches. By Mark Twain. Edited by John Paul. New York: C. H. Webb, 1867.
Mark Twain's dedication in JF1.
TO
John Smith,
whom i have known in divers and sundry places about the world, and whose many and manifold virtues did always command my esteem, i
Dedicate this Book.
It is said that the man to whom a volume is dedicated, always buys a copy. If this prove true in the present instance, a princely affluence is about to burst upon
THE AUTHOR.
[begin page 429]C. H. Webb's “Advertisement” in JF1.
“Mark Twain” is too well known to the public to require a formal introduction at my hands. By his story of the Frog, he scaled the heights of popularity at a single jump, and won for himself the sobriquet of The Wild Humorist of the Pacific Slope. He is also known to fame as The Moralist of the Main; and it is not unlikely that as such he will go down to posterity. It is in his secondary character, as humorist, however, rather than in the primal one of moralist, that I aim to present him in the present volume. And here a ready explanation will be found for the somewhat fragmentary character of many of these sketches; for it was necessary to snatch threads of humor wherever they could be found—very often detaching them from serious articles and moral essays with which they were woven and entangled. Originally written for newspaper publication, many of the articles referred to events of the day, the interest of which has now passed away, and contained local allusions, which the general reader would fail to understand; in such cases excision became imperative. Further than this, remark or comment is unnecessary. Mark Twain never resorts to tricks of spelling nor rhetorical buffoonery for the purpose of provoking a laugh; the vein of his humor runs too rich and deep to make surface-gilding necessary. But there are few who can resist the quaint similes, keen satire, and hard good sense which form the staple of his writings.
J. P.
[begin page 430]Mark Twain's (Burlesque) Autobiography and First Romance. New York: Sheldon and Company, [1871].
First letter of agreement for BA1 (MTP). Mark Twain wrote on the back: “Sheldon | Brochure contract.” See the next item.
New York, December 9th 1870
Dear Sir
Your dispatch has just been received and we have answered by telegraph that we will publish it, and of course do our very best as to getting it out in time &c &c; and give you half of all the book can be made to pay. This is much better for you than any copyright we could name, if the book proves a success.
It is now of course late in the season to get out a book and there are always delays we can never calculate on, as each step in the process of manufacturing is made, but we can get it out as soon as anyone, and should not lose a moment.
We are Very Truly Yours
Sheldon & Co [per] W.G.
P.S. Should you prefer a copyright we would give 15 per cent on the retail price.
S&Co [per] W.G.
To S. S. Clemens Esq.
Editor Buffalo Express
[begin page 431]Contract for BA1 (MTP). On 4 April 1871 Isaac E. Sheldon wrote Clemens: “Your favor of Apl 3rd is at hand. I rec'd also a few days since yours of Mar 22nd. Inclosed find a contract as you desire. It is just like the one you sent except that settlements are made 1st of Aug. & Feb each year. At these times we make up a/cs of copyright in all our books” (MTP). Clemens' copy of the contract and both of his letters have been lost; Sheldon's contract is reproduced here.
New York, April 4th 1871.
This memorandum certifies that before publishing Mark Twains pamphlet “Autobiography and First Romance” we agreed to pay him a royalty of six cents on every copy sold. Said agreement is still in force—and we further agree to make a full statement to him of sales every first of August and first of February and accompany the same with the amount of money due him.
Signed.
Sheldon & Co
[begin page 432]Mark Twain's Sketches. Selected and Revised by the Author. Copyright Edition. London: George Routledge and Sons, 1872.
“Author's Advertisement” for MTSk, which appeared in various newspaper advertisements as well as on p. [iii] of the book. Copies vary slightly: the one reproduced here appeared in the London Spectator for 25 May 1872 (p. 670); it is this copy that the Routledges referred to in their letter to the editor of the Spectator, dated 21 May 1872 (quoted in the textual introduction, p. 592). The copy in the book was dated “Hartford, 1872.”
Messrs. George Routledge and Sons are the only English Publishers who pay me any Copyright on my books. That is something, but a courtesy which I prize even more is the opportunity which they have given me to edit and revise the matter for publication myself. This enables me to leave out a good deal of literature which has appeared in England over my name, but which I never wrote. And, as far as this particular volume is concerned, it also enables me to add a number of sketches which I did write, but which have not heretofore been published abroad.
This book contains all of my sketches which I feel at all willing to father.
Mark Twain.
[begin page 433]Mark Twain's “Prefatory” for MTSk, which appeared on p. [v] of the book. Mark Twain probably composed it shortly before sending the printer's copy for MTSk to England, that is, in late March 1872.
If I were to sell the reader a barrel of molasses, and he, instead of sweetening his substantial dinner with the same at judicious intervals, should eat the entire barrel at one sitting, and then abuse me for making him sick, I would say that he deserved to be made sick for not knowing any better how to utilize the blessings this world affords. And if I sell to the reader this volume of nonsense, and he, instead of seasoning his graver reading with a chapter of it now and then, when his mind demands such relaxation, unwisely overdoses himself with several chapters of it at a single sitting, he will well deserve to be nauseated, and he will have nobody to blame but himself if he is. There is no more sin in publishing an entire volume of nonsense than there is in keeping a candy store with no hardware in it. It lies wholly with the customer whether he will injure himself by means of either, or will derive from them the benefits which they will afford him if he uses their possibilities judiciously.
Respectfully submitted,
The Author.
[begin page 434]Mark Twain's Sketches. Number One. Authorised Edition. With Illustrations by R. T. Sperry. New York: American News Company, [1874].
Prefatory note for Mark Twain's planned but never published pamphlet about the Shah of Persia ( MTLP , pp. 79–80), a precursor of Sk#1. The location of the original manuscript is not now known; it was written on 7 July 1873.
To the Reader
It is not my desire to republish these New York Herald letters in this form; I only do it to forestall some small pirate or other in the book trade.
If I do not publish some such person may, and I then become tacitly accessory to a theft. I have had a recent unpleasant experience of this kind. I have copyrighted the letters here in London simply to prevent their republication in Great Britain in pamphlet form. My objection to such republication, either in America or England, is, that I think everybody has already had enough of the Shah of Persia. I am sure I have. To the letters I have added certain sketches of mine which are little known or not known at all in America, to the end that the purchaser of the pamphlet may get back a portion of his money and skip the chapters that refer to the Shah altogether.
With this brief apology, I am
Respectfully
Mark Twain
London, July 7
[begin page 435]Mark Twain's Sketches, New and Old. Now First Published in Complete Form. Hartford and Chicago: American Publishing Company, 1875.
Contract for SkNO (Yale Za/Clemens/22). Mark Twain's contract was drawn up on 29 December
1870 and sent to him; it was presumably signed shortly thereafter. Elisha Bliss and
Clemens revised it on 12 February 1875. The document is all in Bliss's hand, except
for a sentence following the codicil: “It is satisfactory to me, Bliss.” This appears
to be Mark Twain's answer to a note written at the bottom by Bliss.” If all right
sign & send back & I will send copy signed.” Bliss also noted on the back: “The matter
for book contracted for by within contract by S. L. Clemens has been delivered to
us, & called ‘M. T.'s Sketches.’
Am Pub Co
per E Bliss Jr.” Mark Twain's copy of the contract itself has not been found, but
his copy of the codicil is in MTP. His copy varies slightly from Bliss's, and it is
attached to another statement by Bliss. Both are reproduced here. On the codicil Mark
Twain has written: “Addition to Sketch Book copyright of '70.” (Bliss corrected “copyright”
to “contract.”) Mark Twain also wrote: “Please file this away, Mr. Perkins. S. L.
C.,” addressing his lawyer at this time, Thomas C. Perkins of Hartford.
This memorandum made this Twenty ninth day December 1870 between Saml L Clemens of Buffalo N.Y. & American Publishing Co. of Hartford State of Connecticut—witnesseth that the said Clemens is to prepare for the said Co. a matter for a book to be published by them in addition to the two already arranged for. Sd book to be got ready as soon as practicable by sd Clemens & so that it can be published in the early spring of /71 if possible. Sd matter to be made up in part of old articles written by sd Clemens & published heretofore, but to be altered if possible to do so in such a manner that a new copyright will hold upon them—Other parts of the book to be of new matter—The sd Company agrees to pay to sd Clemens the copyright of Seven & one half (7½) per cent—statements & settlements—free copies to editors & others to be the same as in contract for Innocents Abroad—& for the two other books arranged for.
Saml L. Clemens.
E Bliss Jr Secty
Am Pub Co.
[begin page 436]Hartford Feby. 12. 1875
It is agreed in consideration of the great increase of Mr Clemens fame that if the book above proposed sells 50,000 not to exceed 50,000 the copyright is to remain as above, but if it exceeds 50,000 it shall be 10% on all sold. Settlements to be made at rate of 7½% until sale exceeds 50000 when the other 2½ shall be paid.
Saml. L. Clemens.
E Bliss Jr prest
The following addition is to be made to the contract now existing between Saml L Clemens & the American Publishing Co. dated Dec 29 1870, to wit.
Hartford Feby. 12. 1875
It is agreed that in consideration of the great increase of Mr. Clemens' fame, that if the book proposed, sells not to exceed 50,000 copies, the copyright is to remain as above, viz 7½%, but if that it exceeds 50,000 it shall be 10% on all sold. Settlements to be made at rate of 7½% until sale exceeds 50,000 copies, when the other 2½% shall be paid.
Signed.
Saml. L. Clemens.
E Bliss Jr. prest
We have received from S. L. Clemens the Ms. for book contracted for in contract dated Dec. 29, 1870, & also recd from S L Clemens & C Dudley Warner, the Ms for book contracted for in contract dated May 8, 1873—& we have endorsed the receipt by us of same on the respective contracts.
There is no contract existing between S. L. Clemens & the Am. Pub Co., for a book or books, made prior to the latest above mentioned dates, on which the ms. contracted for has not been delivered to us.
Am Pub Co
pr E Bliss Jr prest
[begin page 437]Mark Twain's “Preface” to SkNO as it appeared in the salesmen's prospectus. The manuscript for this preface survives in the Rare Book Room of the Cornell University Library, and it is reproduced here without emendation.
PREFACE.
I have scattered through this volume a mass of matter which has never been in print before, (such as “Those Annual Bills,” the Jumping Frog restored to the English tongue after martyrdom in the French, the “Membranous Croup” sketch, & many others which I need not specify): not doing this in order to make an advertisement of it, but because these things seemed worthy to my partial mind. instructive.
Mark Twain.
Hartford, March, 1875.
[begin page 438]Mark Twain's “Preface” for SkNO as it appeared in revised form in the book itself.
I have scattered through this volume a mass of matter which has never been in print before, (such as “Learned Fables for Good Old Boys and Girls,” the “Jumping Frog restored to the English tongue after martyrdom in the French,” the “Membranous Croup” sketch, and many others which I need not specify): not doing this in order to make an advertisement of it, but because these things seemed instructive.
Mark Twain.
Hartford, 1875.
Advertising copy from the American Publishing Company prospectus. Very rough working notes on the verso of unused advertising copy written by Mark Twain (quoted on p. 645 below) show that Bliss wrote what follows here.
