LOT #43084 |
Starting Bid: $2,000
[Samuel Clemens] Mark Twain: Thrice Signed Copperplate Self Portrait....
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Description
[Samuel Clemens] Mark Twain: Thrice Signed Copperplate Self Portrait. 3" x 5 1/2" copperplate engraved self-portrait of Samuel L. Clemens ("Mark Twain"), housed in its original folding leather case with the inlaid presentation inscription intact.This celebrated self-portrait was created by Twain for his 67th birthday dinner in 1902, an event sponsored by Harper & Brothers, at which he presented each guest with one of these copperplate etchings. The famous image bears an inscribed caption in Twain's hand explaining why he left out the mouth: "Done by Truly Yours, Mark Twain; N. B. I cannot make a good mouth, therefore leave it out. There is enough without it anyway. Done with the best ink. M. T."
Each engraving came in a wallet-style leather case, gilt-stamped with the recipient's name, and fitted with an inlaid slip of paper at the bottom of the plate that Twain personally inscribed. This one, presented to David A. Munro, reads: "David A. Munro, Should auld acquaintance be forgot? Mark Twain."
Munro, whose name appears on the case as "Mr. David A. Munro," was one of Twain's editors. Of the fifty-three guests who attended the dinner, Munro was seated seven chairs to Clemens's left at the main table. Although Munro declined to publish Twain's The War Prayer, he later oversaw the publication of Twain's autobiography in more than twenty installments of The North American Review. A very rare memento, and an exceptional example of Twain's carefully cultivated public persona.
Includes a Letter of Authenticity from PSA/DNA.
Condition: Excellent. A few very minor scuffs to the leather case. Very light surface wear to copperplate.
Auction Info
2026 March 18 The Dan Madsen Collection of Abraham Lincoln and Mark Twain Memorabilia Americana & Political Signature® Auction #6335 (go to Auction Home page)
Proxy Bidding Ends
March
18th
Wednesday
10:50 am CT
Auction Dates
March
18th
Wednesday
Proxy Bidding Time Remaining
22 Days
13h 5m 9s
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This lot is in: 1 -
Signature® Floor Session (Live Floor, Live Phone, Mail, Fax, Internet, and Heritage Live):
(Lots 43001-43084) - 11:00 AM Central Time, Wednesday, March 18, 2026.
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Additional Location Info:
Heritage Auctions - Dallas
2801 W. Airport Freeway
Dallas, TX 75261
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