I met my friend Mr. Harte in New York a day or two ago, &
he handed me your letter of Aug. 21st (to him.)2explanatory note That you should purpose adding a book or books of mine to your series is a compliment which
I greatly value. I
suppose, from your letter, that you have a copy of “Tom Sawyer” by you, therefore
it will not be necessary for me
to send one to you. The American edition has been delayed by the artists & engravers,
& will not issue from the press for two months yet; but there will be no alterations
from the
English edition, except that it will contain this line: “To my wife I
affectionately dedicate this book.” I forgot that when I sent the manuscript to London.3explanatory note
That you have recognized my moral right to my books gratifies me but does not surprise
me, because I knew before
that you were always thus courteous with authors.4explanatory note
Very Truly Yours
Samℓ. L. Clemens
To Baron Tauchnitz:
Textual Commentary
Source text(s):
MS facsimile, Tauchnitz 1937, 59–60.
Previous Publication:
Otto 1912, 125; Meyer
1972, back cover.
Provenance:
The Tauchnitz Verlag archives were destroyed in the bombing of Leipzig in 1943.
1 Tauchnitz (1816–95) founded his Leipzig publishing house in 1837 and in 1841 began
publication of his highly successful Collection of British and American Authors. He
had been granted the title Freiherr (Baron) in 1860 by Ernest II (1818–93), duke of
Saxe-Coburg-Gotha (brother of Albert, English prince consort), for his efforts to
make English literature popular in Germany (“Death of Baron Von Tauchnitz,” New York
Times, 15 Aug 1895, 5).
In fact, Harte had enclosed Tauchnitz’s letter in one of his own, which he
mailed on 9 September and which Clemens received after his 11 September return to
Hartford (CU-MARK):
UCLC32412
713 B’way, N.Y.
b.h.
Septem. 3 5th/76
My dear Clemens,
I received the enclosed note to-day.
The Baron is a good fellow. Considering the fact that we have no
copyright on the Continent, and that he could steal but wont, and that his editions are
the perfection of letter press, and that to be on his list is a kind of guarantee
to the English reading people there I’d
advise you to accept his offer. He will send you from £50 to £100 according to the
size of the book—as
a gratuity. Of course as his books are contraband in England, it don’t interfere with
your rights there.
You have, of course, read all the critics have said about my play. And yet,
it is drawing well, and, honestly, I don’t think is a bad play. It seems to me a little
like the three parts of a charade
with the answer left out, but it’s pretty and picturesque and Robson is satisfied.
If you come in town, let me send you tickets.
I cannot understand why Bliss delays my book. He promised to bring it out on the 1st Sept. but I have heard nothing of it, and it seems
to be dead. You are a stockholder in the Concern. Shove him up.
Yours ever
Bret Harte
Mr Sam. Clemens
enclosure:
gott lenke ihn
My dear Sir,
I hope my last lines of March 29 reached you safely and also the payment.
Being desirous to include also the name of your friend Mr. Samuel Clemens (Mark Twain)
in my series, I take the
liberty, not knowing his address, to ask you whether you would have the great kindness,
to communicate my wish to Mr. Clemens. I think
I might begin with his last book “Tom Sawyer,” which would just fill one
of my volumes.
I hope, these lines may find you quite well. Pardon me the liberty I have taken.
Believe me always
Yours faithfully
Tauchnitz
Leipzig Aug 21, 76
For Harte’s play, see 14 Sept 1876 to Howells, n. 5. His novel, Gabriel Conroy, was published by Elisha Bliss’s American Publishing Company in September 1876, after
his and Harte’s long mutual dissatisfaction (see 28 July 1872 to Bliss, L5, 134–35 n. 2, and L6: 22 May 1875 to Howells, 483–84 n. 3; 5 July 1875 to Howells, 505 n. 4).
The English edition of Tom Sawyer, unlike the American, was
not illustrated. There also were variations in spelling, punctuation, capitalization,
and wording, in keeping with Chatto and Windus
house style and English usage (see TS 1980,
545–54).
In consequence of your kind letter of Sept 14 I have added your “Tom
Sawyer” to my series. It filled one of my little volumes. I have printed it from the
London edition, in adding the dedication you wished.
I take the liberty of ordering my bankers in London, Messrs Fruhling & Goschen, that
the amount of
Five Hundred German Mark (Gold) shall be paid to you at Hartford, which please to
accept for your authorization.
I shall be happy to send you copies of my edition, if you will kindly name
me the number you wish and if you will take the necessary steps at the Custom House of the U.S.
Hoping to see our relations continued I am
Yours very truly
Tauchnitz
Five hundred marks was $119 (Annual Cyclopaedia 1876, 342).
MS facsimile, Tauchnitz 1937, 59–60.
Otto 1912, 125; Meyer 1972, back cover.
The Tauchnitz Verlag archives were destroyed in the bombing of Leipzig in 1943.
More information on provenance may be found in Description of Provenanceclick to open link.