slc/mt
Elmira, N.Y.
May 7, 1874.
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A. R. Spofford Esq
Dear Sir:
I enclose design of a Pamphlet Cover, upon which I desire a copyright.1
Also, the title-page of the Pamphlet—upon the contents of which I likewise desire copyright.
Fees ($100) enclosed.
Very truly ys
Samℓ. L. Clemens
[enclosure:] 2
[letter docketed:] [copyright]may 9 1874 6347 E [and] 100 Pd [and next to SLC’s signature] of U. S.
Explanatory Notes | Textual Commentary
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On 9 May 1874, Clemens was issued Copyright No. 6347E on the contents of Mark Twain’s Sketches.
Number One. No separate copyright was recorded for the cover design, drawn by the book’s illustrator,
Reginald T. Sperry of Hartford (Geer 1873, 127, 211). The copyright was perfected when the required two copies of the pamphlet
were received by the Library of Congress on 4 June 1874. The published cover bore the following copyright notice:
“Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1874, by Samuel L. Clemens, in the office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington” (SLC 1874; information courtesy of the Copyright Office, Library of Congress).
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An early printing of the cover, lacking the contents list (which would be added when page numbers were available), survives
with the letter. Clemens’s inscription on it—“Matter of Title-page, for copyright of Contents.”—indicates that he did not enclose a sample title page, but intended the
cover to represent it (see also 25 Feb 74 to Fairbanks, n.
6, and 10 May 74 to OC, n. 5).
Source text(s):MS facsimile. The editors have not seen the MS, which was registered as No. 6347E, 9 May 1874, in the Copyright
Office of the Library of Congress (DLC). An enclosed early printing
(lacking the list of contents) of the cover of Mark Twain’s Sketches. Number One (SLC 1874) was filed with the letter. It is photographically
reproduced. Neither the letter nor the cover could be located in 2001.
Previous publication:
L6, 135–137; Highsmith and Landphair, 68, MS facsimile.
Emendations and textual notes:
copyright • c[opyrigh]t [badly inked]
