[Mark Twain]. Samuel L. Clemens Photograph Signed...

Description

[Mark Twain]. Samuel L. Clemens Photograph Signed "Mark Twain." This fantastic 6.5" x 9.75" (sight), black and white, chest length, A. F. Bradley photograph features a seventy year old Twain in light colored suit and tie. The viewer is drawn to the author's face, which is in focus and shows immense clarity, while rest of his body shows softened edges, bordering on blurriness. The photograph was taken in New York in 1907, three years before Twain's death. Framed to an overall size of 16.75" x 20".

More Information: In 1907, Twain, who had vowed to never take another photograph, was persuaded to sit for a series of photographs to raise money to support survivors of the 1906 San Francisco earthquake.  In his younger days, Twain had spent time in San Francisco and many of his friends were affected by the quake.  The plan was to have New York photographer A. F. Bradley take photographs of the author who would then sign the image. The image would then be sold, the proceeds going to the "Ina Coolbrith Home Fund." (Coolbrith was a friend of Twain's who was left homeless and penniless after the quake)  Twain later said that four of the photographs taken were the finest of himself ever taken.