Clemens, Samuel L.

Autograph manuscript, 29 pages on 28 leaves (8 x 5 in.; 205 x 130 mm), written in purple ink on rectos (and one verso), with numerous revisions, n.p., n.d. [1880], bound with an engraved portrait of Clemens, manuscript title in black and red ink, and the printed text from the Hartford 1880 edition; light soiling throughout. Straight-grained blue morocco panelled gilt, lettered gilt on upper cover, extremities a bit rubbed, upper hinge cracked.  

Estelle Doheny (sale, Christie's 1 February 1988, lot 475)

An original manuscript chapter from A Tramp Abroad. The chapter recounts in some detail a hike taken with a Mr. Harris up the Neckar River from Heidelberg to Heilbronn and sights along the way. There is also an account of the inn where the hikers lodged which had once been occupied by "the famous old robber knight and rough fighter, Götz von Berlichingen . ...There was a hook in the wall, which the landlord said the terrific old Götz used to hang his iron hand on when he took it off to go to bed ..."

The chapter was originally numbered 21, then 13, then 10, and finally 11. The pagination was altered from 551 to 583 to read 321 to 351. Some differences are evident between the manuscript and the chapter as published. The footnote regarding the German language ("See Appendix D for information concerning this fearful tongue") was added as an afterthought, in a different color ink, and other changes are made in the same ink on at least four pages. On page 330, clemens changed two characters identified as "Our consul, & a young friend of his named Smith" to "A Mr. X & a young Mr. Z."