6 October 1881 • Hartford, Conn. (MS, damage emended: Jacobs, UCCL 02045)
No, indeed, poor Rab was an expense to nobody. He came pretty near being, it is true, but he didn’t quite succeed. His soul is stainless, both of the crime & the intent. The three servants who only had to feed & pet Rab, were inconsolable over his loss; & only none but the coachman & the gardener desired his departure. It was these whom he kept busy dragging him away from vehicles. But all the five are agreed in wanting a pup of Rab’s exact breed, & they promise that they will train that pup to respect the passing horse, & be a joy & a solace to the whole household. He made mighty strong friends, poor old Rab.
Mrs. Clemens reciprocates your kind greeting, with many thanks, & also the desire to meet,Ⓐemendation which
1 or 2 lines plus closing and signature torn away
MS, damage emended, collection of Victor and Irene Murr Jacobs.
Sotheby’s catalog, 29 October 1996, lot 221, partial publication; Kenneth W. Rendell Gallery catalog, December 1998, no. 271, p. 9, partial publication; MicroPUL, reel 2.
Victor and Irene Murr Jacobs bought the MS from Paul C. Richards on 11 August 1967 and sold it at Sotheby’s in 1996. It was resold by Kenneth Rendell in 1998.
More information on provenance may be found in Description of Provenanceclick to open link.