Here are Values of a Mark Twain Autograph
FREE APPRAISAL. To buy, sell or consign a Mark Twain autograph, please email your description and photos to [email protected] of Nate D. Sanders Auctions (http://www.NateDSanders.com).
Mark Twain Autograph
A Mark Twain autograph is not very rare, but as one of America’s top authors of all time, a Mark Twain autograph is in great demand. The most money for a Mark Twain autograph will be for anything signed on or regarding “Huckleberry Finn” or “Tom Sawyer”. Here are some examples that we at NateDSanders.com sold:
Very Nice Copy of “Tom Sawyer” With a Mark Twain Autograph
Excellent copy of “Tom Sawyer,” dated 10 May 1899 with a nice Mark Twain autograph. Inscribed on front free endpaper: “Truly Yours Mark Twain / May 10, 1899.” London: Chatto and Windus: 1899. A later edition of the classic that became the wellspring of American literary fiction, with wood-engraved illustrations by True Williams. In this quintessentially American novel, Twain introduces Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn and their mischievous adventures in antebellum Missouri. With one marginal small tear to preface, light toning and occasional staining to pages. Original blue cloth boards with gilt lettering. Spine is rubbed and frayed at head and foot with cracking hinges, some page loosening and rubbed corners. Very good overall. Dark Mark Twain autograph. Sold for $7,500.
Signed Copy of Mark Twain’s “Tom Sawyer”. Click to enlarge.
Exceedingly rare Mark Twain autograph on a first edition, first printing of ”Eve’s Diary.” London and New York: Harper and Brothers: 1906. Inscription on front pastedown reads: ”To Mrs. K.C. Tapley with compliments of The Author / Clothes make the man, but they do not improve the woman. Yours Truly, Mark Twain / Feb/08”. Twain’s inscription is a playful response to critics who condemned the ”pornographic” illustrations throughout the book, which depicted Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. All fifty-five pen and ink illustrations by Lester Ralph are present as are first printing points, ”Published June, 1906” on copyright page and ”London and New York” on title page. 5.5” x 8” book is in very good condition, in original red-cloth boards. Minor foxing throughout and toning to edges. Three photographs of Twain are also affixed to the book on the front free end paper and title page, the first of which is captioned, ”Died at 6:30 p.m. Thursday April 21/10 at Redding, Conn, US”. Housed in a satin-lined slipcase. Scarce signed copy of Mark Twain’s lesser known masterpiece, showcasing the author’s beloved wit. Sold for $4,915.
Very Scarce First Edition of ”Eve’s Diary” with a Mark Twain Autograph
Mark Twain Autograph on a Photo
Mark Twain autograph on a photo portrait illustration. Bold sepia Mark Twain autograph underneath handsome black and white portrait dated 1901. Lithograph illustration, measuring 6.25″ x 9.25″, signed “Mark Twain.” Twain, beloved author, humorist and dispenser of American wit, left a formidable body of work before his 1910 death, including “The Adventures of Tom Sawyer” (1876), “The Prince and the Pauper” (1882), “Adventures of Huckleberry Finn” (1884), “A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court” (1889) and “Tom Sawyer, Detective” (1896). Item dates to year when the erstwhile Samuel Langhorne Clemens published the political satire “Edmund Burke on Croker and Tammany.” Mild overall toning to image not affecting signature. Excellent condition. Sold for $4,500.
Click image to enlarge.
Samuel Clemens signs one of his pithy sayings with his given name and also with his alter ego, Mark Twain. The novelist, who is the most often quoted American writer, writes, ”Always acknowledge a fault frankly. This will throw those in authority off their guard & give you opportunity to commit more. Yours truly / Samuel L. Clemens / Mark Twain / July ’77.” Note measures 6.5” x 6.5”. Toning from previous framing, else near fine. Excellent dual Mark Twain autograph. Sold for $4,153.
Mark Twain Autograph Note Twice-Signed
Mark Twain autograph signed twice on a first edition compilation set. The American literary great signs ”Mark Twain / S. L. Clemens” to a tipped-in fly-leaf of the first volume in ”The Works of Mark Twain: Definitive Edition”, Gabriel Wells: New York: 1922. 35-volume set is No. 521 of 1,024. Twain signed leaves to be tipped-in once the set was published, as he had accurately predicted his death would precede the books’ release. Each volume is bound in beige paper boards with blue cloth spine and spine titles on printed paper, measuring approximately 5” x 8”. Original dustjackets ranging from poor to fair accompany 32 of the 35 volumes. Books are near fine given age, with only the slightest shelf wear to edges. Signed volume is bumped at the top right of the front board and has pencil notations to the front free endpaper and a tiny stain to the tipped-in leaf, else near fine. Its accompanying rare dustjacket has a detached flap and paper loss to the spine base, else near fine. A well-preserved, very desirable set. Nice dual Twain autograph. Sold for $3,355.
Mark Twain Autograph Signed Twice on a 35-Volume Set of His Complete Works
”The Writings of Mark Twain” 37 Volume Set — Signed Both ”S.L. Clemens” and ”Mark Twain” to Volume 1
”The Writings of Mark Twain” 37 volume set, signed by America’s foremost author in Volume 1. Gabriel Wells: New York: 1922-1925. This ”Definitive Edition” set was announced in 1922 and marketed to wealthy collectors. Illustrated with photogravure frontis portraits and roughly 160 illustrations throughout the set. #198 of 1024 with a tipped-in leaf signed ”S.L. Clemens / Mark Twain” in the first volume. Bound opposite sheet is additionally signed by Mark Twain’s biographer Albert Bigelow Paine who wrote: ”The fly-leaf was signed by Mark Twain in 1906 in anticipation of the publication of this edition which did not appear until after his death.” Octavo books are bound in paper and blue cloth spines with printed paper spine labels. Some discoloration to spines of each volume which almost all have dampstaining to front pastedown and free endpaper. Two volumes have missing labels on the spine, a few others have loose labels, and the binding is a little loose on the first signed volume. Overall very good, and a nearly-immaculate keepsake from America’s most famous and accomplished writer. Signature page is near fine. Sold for $3,125.
”The Writings of Mark Twain” 37 Volume Set with S.L. Clemens & Mark Twain Autograph. Click to enlarge.
35 volume set of ”The Works of Mark Twain”, signed by Twain on the flyleaf of the first volume with both his given name and famous pseudonym: ”S.L. Clemens / Mark Twain”. This limited edition is #209 of 1,024 copies. Published in New York: Gabriel Wells, 1922-23 after Twain’s death; Twain signed the pages in 1906 prior to its publication. Twain biographer Albert Bigelow Paine also signs volume I, on a separate flyleaf. Volumes each measure 6” x 9”. Most volumes are in very good to near fine condition, including volume I, which has only minor shelf wear. Hinges of volumes XII, XIII, XXXIII and XXXIV are starting to separate, and label of XIII is detached but present. Some toning to labels and scuffing to boards. Entire set is in very good condition overall. Sold for $2,500.
Mark Twain Signed ”The Works of Mark Twain” — Complete 35 Volume Set with S.L. Clemens & Mark Twain Autograph. Click to enlarge.
Rare Mark Twain twice-signed limited edition of ”The Writings of Mark Twain.” Signed ”S.L. Clemens / (Mark Twain)” in black ink with a flourish to the limitation page of Volume I. #30 of 512 limited edition autographed copies. Published by The American Publishing Company: Hartford, CT: 1899. Volume contains Clemens’ first book, ”The Innocents Abroad or The New Pilgrims’ Progress,” an edited compilation of the humorous travel articles first published in San Francisco’s ”The Daily Alta California” newspaper, in which he chronicles his 5-month-long pleasure cruise around Europe destined for the Holy Land in 1867. Contemporary burgundy leather boards with gilt design and ribbed spine. Ornate marbled endpapers. 377pp. book measures 6” x 8.75”. Top edge gilt and deckled fore and tail-edges. Very good condition. Sold for $2,291.
”The Writings of Mark Twain” with Samuel Clemens & Mark Twain Autograph. Click to enlarge.
Signed limited edition of ”The Writings of Mark Twain”, a 25-volume set published by The American Publishing Company: Hartford: [1899-1907]. Volume 1 is numbered 73 of 512 copies and signed upon the limitation page, ”S.L. Clemens / (Mark Twain)”. Volumes feature frontispieces and illustrations throughout. The unsigned volumes are expertly rebound in marbled paper boards with leather spines and gilt lettering. Signed volume is professionally rebacked, retaining the original backstrip and bound in original leather boards with gilt lettering, marbled endpapers and ribbed spine. Top edges gilt. Very good overall. Sold for $2,188.
”The Writings of Mark Twain’ with Samuel Clemens & Mark Twain Autograph. Click to enlarge.
Samuel Clemens autograph letter signed, dated 24 February 1906 on his ”21 Fifth Avenue” stationery. Written at 70 years of age, letter is addressed Govinier C. Hall of the Hall-Truman Furniture Company and reads in full, ”Dear Sir: I am old, now, or nearly that, & shall not travel anymore; otherwise I would accept, & with pleasures & alacrity. My most sincere thanks for the book. I like the illustrations more than I can tell. They are bright & graceful and humorous, & eloquently competent, without help of those medicamp aids, violence, distortion & extravagance. God bless this artist and try to forgive the other kind. Very truly yours / S.L. Clemens”. One page letter with second blank integral page measures 3.75” x “6 with some foxing and toning, and tape residue to second integral page. Includes original postmarked envelope. Overall, very good. Sold for $1,875.
Mark Twain Autograph Letter Signed ”S.L. Clemens”. Click to enlarge.
Mark Twain autograph letter signed, undated. Lengthy letter is addressed to ”My dear Johnson” (Robert Underwood Johnson), and discusses an upcoming book with a portion to appear in ”The Century” magazine. Thoughtful letter is datelined Elmira, New York, ”Saturday”, in part: ”…I am sorry to have made delay by going away, but it was one of these unavoidable things. If the article were going in the Dec. No., I wouldn’t be strenuous about anything, but it is going to come out early enough to give many careless readers the impression that all of it will appear in the Century. Those are hard people for a canvasser to capture. So you see I have offered a compromise. I use the book’s title as a heading but ask you to put in that foot-note telling who publishes it. So in the case of ordinary book-notices, this has an effect which works both ways & is fair to all — to the reader who wants the book, it tells where to apply; & also tells the other sort where not to apply. Are you perfectly willing? Also I have removed from the opening bracketed paragraph every suggestion of apology. Yours sincerely S.L. Clemens / I mail the proof by this same mail”. Letter on two sheets is framed side-by-side, with each sheet measuring 5” x 8”. Framed with a photo of Twain to an overall size of 19” x 26.5”. Letter shows light creasing, else near fine condition. Sold for $1,720.
Mark Twain Autograph Letter Signed ”S.L. Clemens”. Click to enlarge.
Two volume set of ”The Works of Mark Twain”, signed by Twain on the flyleaf of the first volume with both his given name and famous pseudonym: ”S.L. Clemens / Mark Twain”. This limited edition is #671 of 1,024 copies. Published in New York: Gabriel Wells, 1922-23 after Twain’s death; Twain signed the pages in 1906 prior to its publication. Twain biographer Albert Bigelow Paine also signs volume I, on a separate flyleaf. Books each measure 6” x 9” and include the first two of the 35 volume set. Volume I is very good with a cracked front hinge and very faint spotting to signature page. Volume II has previous owner’s name on front pastedown, otherwise near fine. Sold for $1,563.
”The Works of Mark Twain” with S.L. Clemens & Mark Twain Autograph. Click to enlarge.
Mark Twain Check Signed as Samuel Clemens
Mark Twain check signed, ”Samuel L. Clemens” in bold black ink. First National Bank of Hartford, CT check is made out in Clemens’ hand, dated 12 June 1875 in the amount of $62.50 to a recipient named Barnes. Measures 7.75” x 2.75”. Trimming to top edge and initials in pencil to upper left, else near fine. Sold for $1,250.
Mark Twain Signed Check Signed as Samuel Clemens. Click to enlarge.
Mark Twain Check Signed as Samuel Clemens
Mark Twain check signed, ”Samuel L. Clemens” in bold black ink. First National Bank of Hartford, CT check is entirely made out in Clemens’ hand. Measures 7.75” x 2.75”. Trimming to top edge and initials in pencil to upper left, else near fine. Sold for $938.
Mark Twain Signed Check as Samuel Clemens. Click to enlarge.
3.75” x 1.25” — Very Good. Sold for $515.
Mark Twain Signed Slip. Click to enlarge.
FREE APPRAISAL. To buy, sell or consign a Mark Twain autograph, please email your description and photos to [email protected] of Nate D. Sanders Auctions (http://www.NateDSanders.com).
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