Description:

Mark Twain Signed Photo After receiving his Doctor of Literature from Oxford

A day before he set sail from London to return to New York, Mark Twain signs an extraordinary silver gelatin print for a gentleman he had met at the society of the Pilgrims luncheon given in his honor at London's Hotel Savoy 

Photograph Signed "To R.M. Collins, with the Kind regards of" on the mat above the photograph, "Mark Twain July 12/07" on the mat below the photograph. Gelatin Silver Print, 5.75" x 7.5" image, 8" x 10" matt. Photocopy of studio stamping on verso "Ernest H. Mills / At-Home-Photographer / [pictorial logo]". Silvering, minor scratches. Fine condition.

On June 8, 1907, Mark Twain sailed from New York for England aboard the Atlantic Transport liner Minneapolis to receive the degree of Doctor of Literature from Oxford University. On June 25, 1907, Mark Twain was the guest of honor at a luncheon given by the Society of the Pilgrims at the Hotel Savoy in London. It was reported in The Times of London that among those present was "Mr. Robert M. Collins." The New York Times reported from Oxford University that on June 26, 1907, "Together with thirty men distinguished in politics, art, science, or letters, including Premier Campbell-Bannerman, Lord Chancellor Loreburn, the Speaker of the House of Commons, Mr. Lowther, Gen. Booth, Rudyard Kipling, and the Archbishop of Armagh, Mark Twain (Samuel L. Clemens) received a university degree today in the Sheldonian Theatre, the scene of many notable gatherings." The Mark Twain Papers at the University of California Berkeley has record of a letter written by photographer Ernest H. Mills to Samuel L. Clemens and his business agent Ralph W. Ashcroft on July 7, 1907.

On July 13, 1907, the day after he inscribed this Mills photograph to R.M. Collins whom he had undoubtedly met at the Pilgrims luncheon, Mark Twain sailed from Tidbury, on the Thames, for New York on the Steamship Minnetonka.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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