Explanatory Notes        Apparatus Notes (Ⓐ)

Source: The James S. Copley Library, La Jolla, California. The collection of the Copley Library was sold in a series of auctions at Sotheby’s, New York, in 2010 and 2011 ([CLjC])

Cue: "Let Frank send the"

Source format: "MS"

Letter type: "[standard letter]"

Notes:

Last modified: 2000-06-05T00:00:00

Revision History: HES 2000-06-05 was Mn2

Published on MTPO: 2007

Print Publication: v4

MTPDocEd
To Elisha Bliss, Jr.
5 August 1870 • Elmira, N.Y. (MS: CLjC, UCCL 10994)
j. langdon,            office of j. langdon & co. miners and dealers in
 j. d. f. slee,              anthracite and bituminous coals. 6 baldwin st.
   t. w. crane,
     c. j. langdon.                        elmira, n.y., Aug. 5 187 0
Friend Bliss—

Let Frank send the quarterly statement here, if it will be ready within a week.1explanatory note

The physicians pronounce Mr Langdon’s case utterly hopeless. The family are shrouded in gloom, awaiting the end.

Yrs
Clemens.

letter docketed: ✓ and Mark Twain | Aug 5/70

Textual Commentary
5 August 1870 • To Elisha Bliss, Jr. • Elmira, N.Y. • UCCL 10994
Source text(s):

MS, James S. Copley Library, La Jolla (CLjC).

Previous Publication:

L4 , 180; Sotheby 1984, lot 69, excerpt.

Provenance:

The MS was owned by John Feldman until 1990, when it was bought by CLjC.

More information on provenance may be found in Description of Provenanceclick to open link.

Explanatory Notes
1 

The fourth quarter (1 May–30 July 70) statement for The Innocents Abroad does not survive, but must have reported the sale of about 9,122 volumes. This was a significant falling off from the 15,500, 23,500, and 21,378 sold in the first three quarters, respectively. Elisha Bliss’s check, dated 5 August 1870, was for $2,000 (PH in CU-MARK, courtesy of Hamlin Hill; L3 , 441 n. 2; 28 Jan 70 to Bliss, n. 5click to open link; 7 May 70 to Bliss, n. 2click to open link).

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