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Master Jno. H. Bancroft—Yes Sir, if so small a matter can confer a favor upon “a schoolboy” I am the very man to do it.1
Explanatory Notes | Textual Commentary
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1
This letter is assigned arbitrarily to the earliest likely period in 1870
when Clemens was in Buffalo, but he might have written it there in any
of five later periods: 10 or 11 May–6 June; 12–22
June; 12? August–1? October; 9? October–9?
December; or 17–31 December. The request for an autograph may
have come from John H. Bancroft (1856?–1936) who later became
controller of the American Sugar Refining Company (“Aged
Jersey Couple Die 3 Hours Apart,” New York Times, 12 June 1936, 23).
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AAA 1914, lot 72, which describes the
letter as “CLEMENS (SAMUEL L.—American humorist). A.N.S.
1p. 12mo. Buffalo, 1870. Signed with his correct name and his
pseudonym.”
Previous publication:
L4, 63–64.
Emendations and textual notes:
Buffalo, 1870. • [reported, not quoted]
Samuel . . . Twain • [reported, not quoted]