Elisha Bliss, on 16 October 1868, wrote out two copies of a contract between Clemens and the American Publishing Company for publication of an unnamed book, eventually called The Innocents Abroad; or, The New Pilgrims’ Progress. Clemens’s copy, signed by both men, is in the Mark Twain Papers (CU-MARK); Bliss’s copy, signed only by Clemens, is in the Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library at Yale (CtY-BR). Clemens’s copy is transcribed below. The textual commentary records the minor variants between the two copies.
This Memorandum made this Sixteenth day of October A.D. 1868.Ⓐhistorical collation between theⒶhistorical collation American Publishing Co. of City of Hartford & Samuel J Clemens of City of New YorkⒶhistorical collation Wittnesseth, that the sdⒶhistorical collation Clemens agrees to furnish to the Said CompanyⒶhistorical collation manuscript properly prepared & written sufficient to make an Octavo volumeⒶhistorical collation of at least 500 pages— Table of contents &c &c to be made out fully & any other matters neccessaryⒶhistorical collation, to the book to be attended to & prepared. And the said Clemens agrees with the said Company that they shall have theⒶhistorical collation exclusive use of sd ManuscriptⒶhistorical collation & right to publish the same & that he will not use the same in any other manner,Ⓐhistorical collation or any part of it or of its contained matterⒶhistorical collation The subject of the same to be the trip of the “Quaker CityⒶhistorical collation to the Holy Land” And the said Company agree to publishⒶhistorical collation sd manuscript,Ⓐhistorical collation bringing it out in Book formⒶhistorical collation with illustrations, & they agree to pay to sd Clemens for the copyright of the same, theⒶhistorical collation royalty of Five (5) per cent.Ⓐhistorical collation upon the retail price of everyⒶhistorical collation volume sold by themⒶhistorical collation payable at the expiration of each & every three months after the bookⒶhistorical collation is brought out. No royalty however toⒶhistorical collation be paid him upon any Books given to Editors,Ⓐhistorical collation or furnished to themⒶhistorical collation or others, for notices, advertisements, or for the purpose of advancing the sale of the Book. The said Clemens is to give all neccessary time & attention to the reading ofⒶhistorical collation proofs & correting the same if necessaryⒶhistorical collation & to all other matters connected with the bringing out of the BookⒶhistorical collation usually done by Authors & to do all in his power to promote the sale of the work
The sd Company agree that the work shall be Electrotyped during the next 4 months & be ready to place in the hands of their Agents very early next springⒶhistorical collation & that they will useⒶhistorical collation all reasonable efforts to sell the same, & will adopt all of the usual forms & methods to so do.Ⓐhistorical collation
Elisha Bliss Secty
Am. Pub Co Ⓐhistorical collation
Signed Ⓐhistorical collation Sam. L. Clemens.1explanatory note
The Mss for book contracted for by within contract by S. L
Clemens has been delivered to
us—& entitled Inno. Abroad
Am. Pub Co.
per E Bliss for firmⒶhistorical collation 2explanatory note
on back of contract as folded, in Charles L. Webster’s3explanatory note hand: Contract with Am Pub Co. Oct 16 1868 and in an unidentified hand: 5% on retail price of each volume and in a second unidentified hand: Innoc Abroad Innocense Abroad Innocence AbroadⒶhistorical collation
Clemens inscribed “Signed” as well as his signature.
Bliss added the preceding paragraph no earlier than April or May 1869, when Clemens decided on the title of his book.
Charles L. Webster (1851–91) of Fredonia, New York, married Clemens’s niece, Annie Moffett, in 1875. He began to assist Clemens with his business affairs in 1881. In 1884 Clemens established the New York publishing firm of Charles L. Webster and Company, with Webster as manager.
L2 , 421–22.
see Mark Twain Papers, pp. 514–15.