Opening Day Auction Closing May 9th
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 5/10/2015
Famed American literary icon and humorist Mark Twain was invited to London in 1907 to receive the honor of a Doctor of Literature degree from Oxford University. It was on the way across aboard the S.S. Minneapolis that a lucky fan encountered Twain and obtained his signature on one of the ships menus. The four sided menu separated at the fold, measures 4” x 6” when closed and pictures the ship, below which the author has inscribed, “Truly Yours, Mark Twain,” in flowing black fountain pen. Twain spoke to reporters of his autobiography while on this cruise, stating that he, “…put in two hours a day dictating …but (did not) want it published until after I am dead.” Twain left such a collection of anecdotes and ruminations in manuscript form upon his death in 1910. The signed menu is accompanied by a beautiful real photo postcard of Mark Twain photographed as if looking out at the ship’s berth.