Clemens (Samuel Langhorne, author, 1835-1910), "Mark Twain". Autograph Letter signed "S.L. Clemens" to Benjamin Holt Ticknor of James R. Osgood &co., publisher, and with the end of a letter as part of Ticknor's reply on Osgood headed paper & a brief Autograph Note signed "Mark" in further reply, together 3pp., 8vo, Hartford, 15th August 1881, regarding reading the proofs of The Prince and the Pauper, "Yes, that is the correct idea - do the cut over again; process it down to the required reduction. I'll have to wait till you send Chap 1 again, & then begin fair & read consecutively - can't begin in the middle of the book. I'd rather have my own MS to read by. I know it to be accurate, & I ain't sure of the other. If there were a serious error in the copy - MS, I wouldn't know how to remedy it without sending to you for the original. The proof reader, I notice, has marked a hyphen to go in Lord Protector (Chap XXXI) No hyphen will be found in the copy - let the copy be followed strictly... . Sometimes I even spell words erroneously; but I do it purposely, & out of hatred of the dictionary... . Another point... state that the book is not going to be issued 6 months or a year after the date promised, but promptly on that date", and complaining to Ticknor about someone not visiting them, "He didn't come. It has been a great disappointment to the whole family. Hereafter, appoint a party we can depend on... Mark", album stubs on left margins, folds, slightly browned.

⁂ Mark Twain on reading the proofs for "The Prince and the Pauper".