Samuel Clemens archive of 6 pieces including a poignant unpublished letter with content pertaining to the death of his wife Olivia. Archive includes two ALSs written to John Francis "Frank" Holme. Holme was a famous newspaper sketch artist who covered the trials of Adolph Luetgert for the Chicago Daily News. He was also a writer and printer who founded a publishing endeavor called the Bandar Log Press. Clemens and Holme were friends as Clemens was among those who contributed financially to the project. An ALS dated July 29, 1904 to Holme reads, "Dear Mr. Holme: I am exceedingly glad to be a Bandar Log Town stock and I send my best thanks. The "stuff" has reached me and I highly prize it. Immeasurable disaster as befallen me since the La Shelles were under my roof and this has changed my permanent address. Sincerely your, S.L. Clemens." At the top Clemens wrote, "Permanent address: c/o H.H. Rogers, 26 Broadway New York City." Olivia's death had hit Clemens hard. The night of her death, Clemens wrote in his notebook, "At a quarter past 9 this evening she that was the life of my life passed to the relief & the peace of death after as months of unjust & unearned suffering. I first saw her near 37 years ago, & now I have looked upon her face for the last time. Oh, so unexpected!… I was full of remorse for things done & said in these 34 years of married life that hurt Livy’s heart." The H.H. Rogers Clemens refers to is Henry H. Rogers, the Standard Oil magnate, who saved Clemens from financial ruin as well as copyright violations and the two became unlikely friends during the writer’s darkest hours. Clemens also makes mention of the La Shelles. This is reference to playwright Kirke La Shelle who was also Treasurer of the Bandar Log Press. This ALS also comes with the transmittal envelope. The second ALS from Clemens to Holme is dated Jan. 4, 1902 from Riverdale on the Hudson. Clemens moved his family to Riverdale in an effort not to set foot back into their Hartford home since their child had died there. The letter reads, "I rather admire that aesophogus myself, Mr. Holme, especially because it caught our editor of the magazine and he sent to ask if I had made a mistake. Very truly yours, Mark Twain." The reference undoubtedly refers to the spelling of aesophogus that Twain used when he wrote, "The Comedy of Those extraordinary twins" published in 1900. Perhaps Holme made a lighthearted remark about it and Clemens was just responding saying how his editor thought he had made a mistake. Also included in the archive are two copies of the Bandar Log Press. While both appear to be the same edition, one seems to be a more complete version with a color cover. Both contain a story by American humorist, George Ade, titled "Handsome Cyril or the Messenger Boy With the Warm Feet. The books themselves are limited editions. One is a limited edition copy hand numbered 412 of 674. Holme has written in this copy a note to his sister, "Mrs. Nan Gerstell, Merry Christmas from her brother the printer 1903." The book also comes with a transmittal envelope. The books alone are collectors items with one currently selling for $1500 without covers. This archive includes two copies. In very good overall condition. COA John Reznikoff/PSA/DNA and R&R COA.
