Explanatory Notes        Apparatus Notes ()

Source: Collection of Kevin Mac Donnell ([TxAu3])

Cue: "I have just received yours of the 15th. inst"

Source format: "TS"

Letter type: "[standard letter]"

Notes:

Last modified:

Revision History: Larson, Brian

Published on MTPO: 2023

Print Publication:

MTPDocEd
To Andrew Chatto
with a letter to Chatto and Windus
1 March 1883 • Hartford, Conn. (MS, typewritten, from dictation, and transcript: Mac Donnell and UkReU, UCCL 12923 and UCCL 01648)

i have just received yours of the 15th. inst. containing your notes for l610—15s—5d. your statements of sales have always been exceedingly satisfactory and grateful; and this one is like the rest of its family.

by english judicial decision, i believe that any new matter shot into the midst of old, even in the nature of correction of the text, is copyrightable and non-infringableemendation. as i understand it sir walter scott’s notes and emendations were created especially to float his expiring copyrights. well i have made a cord of corrections in those old mississippi sketches, and if any english publisher should re-publish them and copy these corrections, we must pitch into him.

i had a letter from tauchnitz a day or two ago, in which he seems to think, as usual, that i was going to turn the new book over to him without any negotiations. but your letter came just in time to enable me to refer him once more to you. i like to have my books in his hands, but of course i want the thing done by business methods, as at present, and not by authors methods, as formerly.

your arrangement with the swedish translator is quite satisfactory, and i take pleasure in inclosing you the note of ratification which you suggest.

you will find that i am using my own nom-de-plume as a trade-markemendation this time, either on the title page or somewhere. you will repeat this dodge in your edition. if anybody infringes, i mean to bring another trade-mark suit. i have taken legal adviseemendation on the subject. it is believed that this device will win. therefore i thought it worth trying.

yours sincerely,
s. l. clemens.
enclosure

Hartford, Conn. US.A

Feb 28 1883.

Messr Chatto & Windus

London

Gentlemen,

This is to ratify the agreement made by you with Herr J H Schubothes Boghandel of Copenhagen whereby you for sufficient and satisfactory consideration have conferred upon him the right to translate my book “Life on the Mississippi” into the Swedish Language

Very truly yours
S. L. Clemensemendation
(Mark Twain)
Textual Commentary
Source text(s):

MS, typewritten, from dictation, collection of Kevin Mac Donnell, is source text for the letter to Chatto; transcript, UkReU, is source text for the enclosed letter.

Previous Publication:

MicroPUL, reel 2, enclosure only.

Emendations and Textual Notes
 non-infringable ● sic
 trade-mark ● trade- | mark
 advise ● sic
 S. L. Clemens ● (Signed) S. L. Clemens
Top