slc/mt
Elmira, N. Y. May 21/74.
Dear Sir:
I lately copyrighted, as proprietor, an Engraved Design for Cover of “Mark Twain’s Sketches,”1 & am informed from your office, that I can have evidence of said [copyright ] in the form of a certificate by paying 50 cents more. I would like to have the certificate, & so enclose the 50 cents in this letter.
Ys Truly
Samℓ L. Clemens.
A. R. Spofford, Esq.
[enclosure, front:] 2
Explanatory Notes | Textual Commentary
the total disappearance of specie caused trouble in providing small change. The people had resorted to a
variety of substitutes, including postage stamps, which suggested the authorization by the act of July 17, 1862, of an issue
of stamps, and later of currency, for fractional parts of a dollar, at first in the from of postal stamps engraved on the
notes, subsequently in other forms. (Hepburn, 191–92) Before its use ceased in 1876, fractional currency was issued in denominations of three, five, ten, fifteen,
twenty-five, and fifty cents. The note that Clemens enclosed was from the first series of the fifth general issue (February
1874 to February 1876), bearing a likeness of Samuel Dexter (1761–1816), Massachusetts congressman and senator and
secretary of war and the treasury in the cabinet of John Adams (Hepburn, 222–23; Raymond et al.,
173–76).
Source text(s):Previous publication:
L6, 150–151.
Provenance:acquired by DLC in 1960.
Emendations and textual notes:
copyright • copy-|right
