Pure ignorance. Book designers often flip negatives deliberately for 
"visual" appeal, the historical record be damned, but in this case the 
cover lettering would have fit better if they'd correctly reproduced it, 
so it looks to me like a mistake.

This happens all the time when coat buttons or other visual clues (like 
a building in the background) are not visible, but in this image it 
could not be more obvious.

This would all have been made so much simpler (please don't make me 
explain why) if Twain had become a pirate instead of an author.

Kevin
@
Mac Donnell Rare Books
9307 Glenlake Drive
Austin TX 78730
512-345-4139
Member: ABAA, ILAB, BSA

You can browse our books at:
www.macdonnellrarebooks.com


------ Original Message ------
From: "DENNIS KELLY" <[log in to unmask]>
To: [log in to unmask]
Sent: 4/22/2020 10:50:51 PM
Subject: Re: Morgan Library Twain Collection Online

>Anyone know why the cover portrait of Twain (Lyon photo) is printed as a reverse image?
>
>Dennis Kelly
>
>
>
>>  On Apr 22, 2020, at 5:51 AM, Mac Donnell Rare Books <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>>
>>  The print catalog of that exhibit was published in 2010 and is widely available in the used book market. I see a bunged up copy listed on Biblio for $1.50, several on eBay for $5, and others for slightly more at ABE and other online venues.
>>
>>  Kevin
>>  @
>>  Mac Donnell Rare Books
>>  9307 Glenlake Drive
>>  Austin TX 78730
>>  512-345-4139
>>  Member: ABAA, ILAB, BSA
>>
>>  You can browse our books at:
>>http://www.macdonnellrarebooks.com
>>
>>
>>  ------ Original Message ------
>>  From: "Joseph Csicsila" <[log in to unmask]>
>>  To: [log in to unmask]
>>  Sent: 4/22/2020 7:15:49 AM
>>  Subject: Morgan Library Twain Collection Online
>>
>>>  Someone just share this with me. Passing it along in case others had not
>>>  heard.
>>>
>>>https://www.themorgan.org/collection/Mark-Twain-A-Skeptics-Progress
>>>
>>>  Stay safe!
>>>  Joe
>>>
>