Contract for Roughing It
In Elmira on 15 July 1870, Elisha Bliss prepared a contract between Clemens and the American Publishing Company for the book eventually called Roughing It. Clemens’s copy, signed only by Bliss and mailed later from Hartford, is in the Mark Twain Papers (CU-MARK). Bliss’s copy, signed by both men, is in the Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Yale University (CtY-BR). Clemens’s copy is transcribed below. The textual commentary records the variants between the two versions.
This memorandum made this 15th day of July, [A D. ]1870. at Elmira state of N. York. between Saml L. Clemens of Buffalo of [said N York ]& [the American ]Publishing Company of Hartford state of Conn [wittnesseth]
The said Clemens agrees to write for said Company the manuscript for a book upon such subject as may be agreed upon between them, & to deliver the same to them as soon as practicable, but as early as 1st of January [next, ] [if said Company ]shall desire [it— ]Said manuscript to contain matter sufficient for a book of about 600 pages octavo. Said Clemens is also to do the usual [proofreading ]& give the ordinary assistance of [authors ]in bringing out said book & render all aid he can to its [sale, ]& is not to write or furnish manuscript for any other book unless for said [company ]during the [preparation & sale of said manuscript & book, ] [or wr furnish any part of the matter of this ‸said‸ manuscript to other parties— ] [The ]said American Publishing Company agree to publish the said [Book ]in their best [style, ]to commence operations at once upon receipt of [manuscript, ]& to push it through with all the dispatch compatible with its being well done in text & illustrations— They agree to give the book as large a sale as they possibly can [do ]by using all means in their power, & make the utmost efforts both in preparation & sale to make it a great [ sal ] success. They agree [to [pay] ]to said Clemens a copyright on every copy sold of seven & one half per cent of [the retail ]or subscription price, on copies given to editors & others to advance the sale of the [book, ]no copyright is to be paid— Statements of sales to be made to [said ]Clemens every three months from ‸after‸ time of publication, & the copyright due to be paid at same [time]
[American Publishing Co.
E Bliss Jr Secty ]
[The Mss for book contracted for by within contract by S. L. Clemens has been delivered to [us] entitled “Roughing It”
Am Pub Co
[on the back as folded:]Contract with Am Pub Co—July 15, 1870
[in pencil:]
“Roughing It’[’]
7½% retail price
R. It
[in ink:]
Roughing It
Roughing It]
Explanatory Notes | Textual Commentary
Source text(s):Provenance:see Mark Twain Papers in Description of Provenance.
Emendations and textual notes:
wittnesseth • [sic]
Secty • [‘cty’ conflated]
∎ Collation: Variant readings from the photofacsimile of Elisha Bliss’s copy of the contract, Mark Twain House, Hartford (CtHMTH), are recorded below (entries on the right of the bullet). The original is at CtY-BR.
A D. • A D‸
said N York • said state
the American • American
next, • next‸
if said Company • if they ‸the sd company‸
it— • it.—
proofreading • proof reading
authors • Authors
sale, • sale‸
company • company,
preparation . . . book, • term said manuscript & book are being prepared & sold or throw any other obstacle in the way of sale of said book
or wr furnish . . . parties— • ‸or wr ‸furnish‸ . . . parties—‸
[no ¶] The • [¶] The
Book • book
style, • style—
manuscript, • Manuscript
do • do,
sal • [not in]
to [pay] • also to pay
the retail • the selling price at ‸ the ‸ retail
book, • work
said • sd
time • time—
American Publishing Co. | E Bliss Jr Secty • Samℓ L. Clemens. | E Bliss Jr Secty | American Pub. Co
The . . . Roughing It • [on the back as folded] S L Clemens | contract No 2 | July 15th 1870 | for Roughing It | ‸Endorsed on the Duplicate—that the book Mss has been delivered‸
