Vintage matte-finish 10.75 x 13.5 Underwood and Underwood photo of Twain sitting on a small boulder holding a kitten, taken in 1907, signed and inscribed in black ink, “To Mrs. Kate D. Riggs, with the love of Mark Twain, Jan. 14/08.” Double matted and framed to an overall size of 19.5 x 21.5. In fine condition, with a bit of trivial edge silvering to image, a small tear and a couple of creases to bottom edge, and a bit of mild border rippling.
Sporting his trademark white suit, this pleasant image—titled ‘I Always Had a Fondness for Kittens’ and originally published in a 1907 issue of the New York Times—reveals the humorist’s fondness for felines. Clemens had had pet cats ever since boyhood, each with a characteristically unique moniker including Sour Mash, Blaherskite, Trray Kit, Sin, Satan, Appollinaris, Bambino, and Zoroaster. Clemens would also wax poetic about his furry companions, penning observations that included, ‘Of all God's creatures, there is only one that cannot be made slave of the leash. That one is the cat. If man could be crossed with the cat, it would improve man but deteriorate the cat’ and ‘I simply can't resist a cat, particularly a purring one. They are the cleanest, cunningest, and most intelligent things I know, outside of the girl you love of course.’ Mrs. Riggs must have shared his admiration, hence gifting her with this image. Pre-certified John Reznikoff/PSA/DNA and RRAuction COA.
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