SAMUEL L. "MARK TWAIN" CLEMENS - AUTOGRAPH LETTER SIGNED 07/16/1899 - HFSID 4590

SAMUEL L. CLEMENS (MARK TWAIN)
Visiting Sweden in search of a cure for his daughter's epilepsy, Clemens asks a bookseller to send him some "the very best of Clark Russell's sea-tales".
Autograph Letter Signed: "SL C.", 1p, 5½x8½. Sanna, Rosendala, Sweden, 1899 July 16. "Telegraphic address: Sanna Jonkoping, Sweden". To bookseller "C&W". In full: "Please send me a couple of the very best of Clark Russell's sea-tales that you've got in stock. If any of my photos are only about as big as this page, we shall be glad to have them here - but bigger ones we prefer to leave with you for the present. If you haven't heard from Clara when this reaches you, please drop her a line. Jonkoping is pronounced Zhenshepping - think of that!" Samuel, his wife Olivia and their daughter Jean had arrived in Sweden early in July 1899, and remained until October. JEAN CLEMENS (1880-1910), then 19 years old, suffered from epilepsy. Clemens had heard of an osteopathic treatment as practiced by Heinrick Kellgren in Sanna. Kellgren's method was known as the "Swedish movements". Jean benefited by the Kellgren treatment and her parents had for a time the greatest hopes of her complete recovery. Clemens became enthusiastic over osteopathy and wrote eloquently to everyone about the treatment. Jean Clemens was placed in a sanatorium in 1906, two years after her mother's death. Jean died in 1910. CLARA CLEMENS (1874-1962) was Mark Twain's middle daughter. British author W. CLARK RUSSELL (1844-1911) used his early seafaring experiences, as well as accounts of historical voyages, to provide much of the material for his 57 sea novels. Lightly creased with folds, not at signature. 2½-inch separation at mid-horizontal fold touches 1 word of writing (all paper intact). ¾-inch tear at lower right edge at 1 word. Shaded at lower blank edge and right margin. Chipped at upper left blank corner  and upper and lower blank edges. Ink notes (unknown hand) at upper left margin (2 numbers in date touch the "Sa" of Sanna). Irregular left edge. Overall, fine condition.