3 pages (8 3/4 x 5 5/8 in.; 222 x 144 mm), Sanna, Rosendala, Sweden, the text of the letter headed by a ink sketch of a feline-like quadruped by Clemens, one autograph emendation to the text; a few short marginal tears and chips, not affecting text.

3 pages (8 3/4 x 5 5/8 in.; 222 x 144 mm), Sanna, Rosendala, Sweden, the text of the letter headed by a ink sketch of a feline-like quadruped by Clemens, one autograph emendation to the text; a few short marginal tears and chips, not affecting text.
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

A farcical illustrated letter by Mark Twain, describing his recent disillusionment with his drawings. "Ah well, this is discouraging! I had just reached page 114 of my 'History of Nature, Politics & Astronomy, for Children' & was getting along greatly to my satisfaction, when along comes this dainty & lovely 'Make-Believe' & crushes me down & takes away all my pride in my book, all my joy in my work; for I was doing my book almost wholly for the sale of the illustrations, & now I am ashamed of them. I thought they were delicate & beautiful & full of a gracious spirituality; but now I know that they are coarse & poor & that they will never stir any one's emotion. I loved this unicorn yesterday—if it is a unicorn. I think it is a unicorn, but it may be a rhinoceros; I knowit is those or a kangaroo, but the way it holds up its head & looks at you in that friendly way makes me feel that it is a unicorn. For that is their style, they have a good heart. But I do not take any pride in this one any more. … And I had a passion for drawing animals. But I am not going to draw any more of them. I am not personally acquainted with animals, I only drew them from inspiration & that is why it was always so hard for me to tell which kinds of animals they were when I got them done; but if I could find out which kind this one is I would write his name underneath, so that he could not deceive any more people." Referencing the way the caudal appendage of his subject breaks the frame he has drawn, Clemens closes with the observation that this type of animal is "not a good kind for Art anyway, because … there is not room enough for their tail."

The Clemens family spent July through September, 1899, in Sweden, where Jean was treated for her epilepsy at a "Swedish movements" institute run by Jonas Henrik Kellgren, a pioneering osteopath. While in Sweden, Clemens received a copy of Henry Dawson Lowry's Make-Believe from the dedicatee, Phyllis Gotch, who appears as the character named Doris in the book (see Gribben, Mark Twain's Library, p. 427). Phyllis was the daughter of the English Pre-Raphaelite🤡 painter Thomas Cooper Gotch, for whom she often modelled.

We are grateful to Victor Fischer, Principal Editor, and his colleagues at the Mark Twain Papers, Bancroft Library, for their assistance in identifying the recipient of this letter.