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Mark Twain's 67th Birthday Celebration- Signed Gi

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles Start Price:1.00 USD Estimated At:3,500.00 - 5,000.00 USD
Mark Twain's 67th Birthday Celebration- Signed Gi
<B>Mark Twain's 67th Birthday Celebration- Signed Gift and Menu</B></I> "Mark Twain's sixty-seventy birthday, which falls on Sunday, was celebrated at the Metropolitan Club last night by a dinner given in his honor by Col. George Harvey, editor of Harper's Weekly and The North American Review, and President of Harper & Brothers, publishers. It was attended by fifty-three guests, most of them prominent in the literary world. Mark Twain may or may not have read the notices of his demise which certain newspaper paragraphers have from time to time inserted in their papers prematurely as an excuse for the perpetration of a real or imagined witticism, but last night he laughingly listened while John Kendrick Bangs read a long obituary of him in rhyme and rhythm. Mr. Howells read a sonnet in which he referred to a number of incidents in Mark Twain's life, and particularly the article the humorist wrote on foreign missionaries. The other speakers were Chauncey M. Depew, Dr. Henry Van Dyke, Col. George Harvey, W. D. Howells, Hamilton W. Mabie, Thomas B. Reed, Wayne MacVeagh, and Mr. Clemens. Thus read the New York Times review of the legendary humorist's 67th birthday party of November 28, 1902.<BR><BR>This lot contains an elegant, custom shelf storage box containing Hamilton W. Mabie's souvenirs from that very party. Included is the menu and the guest list (which reads like a Who's Who of the literary world at that time). Also included is an incredible presentation item- a thick copper plate of 3" x 5.25" upon which is engraved a mouthless self-portrait of Twain. Noted below (in part): "I cannot make a good mouth, therefore leave it out. There is enough without it anyway." Beneath the portrait, in an indentation, is mounted a paper slip on which Twain has written "Hamilton W. Mabie, With the Kindest regards of Mark Twain." The copper plate is mounted by ribbons into a leather foldover wallet with Mabie's name embossed in gold. Mabie was a close, personal friend of Twain's and often wrote about him for the Outlook magazine. Excellent condition, worthy of inclusion in the finest Mark Twain collections. <I>Accompanied by COA from PSA/DNA.</B></I>