Absolutely superb 4.25 x 6.5 cabinet photo of a young Twain in his white suit by Mora of New York (and so printed in the lower border), signed and inscribed on the reverse in blue ink, “My young friend, there isn’t any merit in doing a thing which it is a pleasure to do, & therefore none is claimed this time by Ys Truly S L Clemens (Mark Twain) Hartford Aug 9 82. To Mr. Edward W. Bok.” In fine, fresh condition, with a couple barely perceptible marks to image and a couple trivial spots of foxing to reverse. Photo also comes with its seldom seen original envelope, labeled “Mark Twain” in an unknown hand.
Clemens offered gorgeous likeness bearing this pearl of wisdom to the 18-year-old Bok, who at the time was employed as a stenographer at the Western Union Telegraph Company but harbored ambitions to work in the publishing business. At the time, the famed novelist had already published The Adventures of Tom Sawyer (1876) and The Prince and the Pauper (1881), but was still a couple years away from publishing ‘the Great American Novel’—The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (1885).
As only he could, Clemens offers his take on writing—”there isn’t any merit in doing a thing which it is a pleasure to do”—words that must have inspired the recipient. Bok eventually made the leap to the world of publishing—around the same time he became an autograph collector and eventually the author of a 1921 Pulitzer Prize-winning autobiography. This incredible photograph, signed as both ‘Mark Twain’ and ‘Samuel L. Clemens,’ was the property of Bok’s daughter-in-law until June 2011. A rare literary find with a classic ‘Twainism’ that was cherished by the family of the original recipient for decades. Pre-certified John Reznikoff/PSA/DNA and RR Auction COA.
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