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HOLOGRAPHTITLE-PAGE FOR AN ABANDONEDWORK
260
●
TWAIN, MARK. Autograph Manuscript Signed, draft of a title-page for
Appendix
to ‘A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court’
, including an indicator of where the price
should be located, an explanatory note from the author, and information about copyright
and publisher. 1 page, 8vo; faint toning to edges, bookplate of WilliamWest mounted along
upper edge to verso; cloth chemise and
1
/
4
morocco slipcase.
Np, circa 1889
[5,000/7,500]
The note: “The Yankee says so many unkind things about royalty & nobility in that book that it
seems only fair that they should have a chance to show, by unquestioned history, that they have been
of great value to their country—that, indeed, they have been to her the most valuable of all her children.
And so in their defence I print this little book, which was written by an Englishman & published in
London a year ago. It is my desire to heal all the wounds & make things pleasant again.”
Presumably, this title-page was intended for a proposed reprinting of an English work responding to
the criticisms appearing in
A ConnecticutYankee
, but Twain subsequently abandoned the project for
unknown reasons.