To
Unidentified 25 August 1877 • Elmira, N.Y.(MS facsimile: Heritage Auctions online catalog, 24 September 2015,
UCCL13735)
Elmira, N.Y. Aug. 25.
Dr Sir:
I am sorry to say that I shall not be able to comply, such miscellaneous work
as I may chance to do being al/lready promised elsewhere.1explanatory note
Ys Truly
S. L. Clemens
Textual Commentary
Source text(s):
MS facsimile, Heritage Auctions online catalog, accessed 24 September 2015.
This may be Clemens’s answer to the following request of 14 August from Bryan,
Brand and Company, which enclosed a printed announcement of their forthcoming
publication. Clemens wrote “Impertinent” on the envelope (CU-MARK):
UCLC32537
office of bryan, brand & co. subscription book publishers, 608 north fourth st.
st. louis, Aug 14 187 7
Samuel L. Clemens Esq
Hartford Conn
Dr Sir:
We have in press & will issue this fall a history of Mo as per slip enclosed
The book will contain a number of steel plate portraits of leading Missourians &
among that number we should be happy to include one of yourself with a sketch
of your life if you will furnish us notes for that purpose and 1000 imprints from
the plate used by G W Carlton & Co N.Y. used in their “Record of the year”
published we believe last yearfall The same to be furnished us free of cost
Awaiting your reply we beg to remain
Yours Truly
Bryan Brand & Co.
enclosure:
"THE COMMONWEALTH OF MISSOURI"
will be published in large octavo form, embracing from
900 to 1000 pages, handsomely printed on heavy tinted
paper, and illustrated by numerous wood cuts and steel
plate portraits of leading citizens. It will include the
following departments:
1st. A chapter on the Mounds and Mound-builders of
Missouri, by Prof. A. J. Conant.
2d. A History of Missouri, from the date of the
earliest settlement, by Col. W. F. Switzler of Columbia
3d. A Review of the Climate, Agriculture, Mineral
Resources and Material Growth of the State.
4th. A chapter on Educational Progress, with notices
of leading Schools and School-men
5th. Biographical Sketches of State Officers and
Members of the Legislature for the Centennial Year.
6th. Sketches of the Judiciary and Congressional
Delegations of Missouri in the Centennial Year
7th. The Great Cities and Towns of Missouri, with
sketches of distinguished citizens.
The “plate used by G W Carlton & Co” was an engraving of a photograph taken by
George G. Rockwood of New York City, of unknown date. It was published in the
February 1876 issue of Record of the Year (1:225).
MS facsimile, Heritage Auctions online catalog, accessed 24 September 2015.