To Editors of Newspapers
per Fanny C. Hesse
11 December 1877 • Hartford, Conn.
(MS, secretarial copy: CU-MARK, UCCL 08617)
(SUPERSEDED)

Hartford Dec. 11th 1877

To the Editor of ——
Sir,

A fraudulent concern calling itself “the Franklin Publishing Co” of New York is canvassing the West for a book entitled “Elbow Room, or the Innocents at Home by Mark Twain.” I never have written any such book; I never have had any dealings whatever with the above firm, and whoever buys one of those books or pays for one after being deceived into subscribing for it, will do himself a wrong, & confer profit where it will be but ill deserved. I hope the western newspapers generally, will do me the great courtesy & kindness to copy this.

Respectfully

Mark Twain.