Kevin Mac Donnell historical insights into the different versions of FTE are fascinating (see below). Has anyone seen the FTE manuscript held in the Berg Collection of the New York Public Library? Manuscript is such a broad term. What sort of document are we talking about here? Is it Twain's first/last draft, a corrected first draft, a printer's proof. Is it typed, hand written, etc. A few months back, I made some enquiries about obtaining copies of specific sections of the New York MS but I was told I needed to specify page numbers of the original manuscript (as opposed to page numbers in the published book) before copies could be made. This is clearly impossible without viewing the manuscript. I was also informed that "because this material is bound, it may not be photocopied for conservation reasons. Only a digital photograph of each page must be made." It all started to sound very awkward from this distance. Which is a shame. I was tempted to point out to the curator that this was a bit like the Chico and Harpo's scam to sell enough code books to bet on Sun-Up in "A Day at the Races" ... but thought better of it. I'll leave the humour to the professionals. Ron Hohenhaus Sunnybank Hills, Qld Australia ________________________________ From: Mark Twain Forum on behalf of Kevin Mac Donnell Sent: Fri 27/08/2010 2:48 PM To: [log in to unmask] Subject: Re: Following the Equator Regarding the best reading edition of FOLLOWING THE EQUATOR-- The English edition, MORE TRAMPS ABROAD, contains 6,000 words deleted = from the American edition. On the other hand, the American edition includes = 1,400 words not in the English edition. So, neither is entirely satisfactory = as a reading edition. Is there an edition that provides the full text? I reckon I dunno. I'm = not sure an edition with the "full text" could be considered authorial in = the sense that it would reflect Twain's final intentions, but so long as the altered texts were designated as such, it would make for good reading. I don't know if the 1899 collected edition of FTE was revised by Twain. I = have marked proof copies for two works from that edition, but not FTE, and I = have not compared the 1899 text to the 1897 English and American editions. Perhaps the MTP knows to what extent Twain was aware of those textual differences and whether he revised the 1899 setting. If he did revise the text, then any FTE odd volumes from the 1899 = edition would do. That setting was used to print several later editions. BUT, = you'd miss out on the original illustrations that appeared in the 1897 = American edition (they are not present in the 1897 English edition). The Oxford edition simply reproduces the American edition, and not the English, but = has a good essay on the illustrations by Beverly David. Then, of course, there's the first Canadian edition (Vancouver, 1899)... Kevin @ Mac Donnell Rare Books 9307 Glenlake Drive Austin TX 78730 512-345-4139 Member: ABAA, ILAB ************************* You may browse our books at www.macdonnellrarebooks.com = This message and any attachment are intended solely for the addressee a= nd may contain confidential information. If you have received this mess= age in error, please send it back to me, and immediately delete it. P= lease do not use, copy or disclose the information contained in this me= ssage or in any attachment. Any views or opinions expressed by the aut= hor of this email do not necessarily reflect the views of the Universit= y of Nottingham.=0D=0A=0D=0AThis message has been checked for viruses b= ut the contents of an attachment=0D=0Amay still contain software viruse= s which could damage your computer system:=0D=0Ayou are advised to perf= orm your own checks. Email communications with the=0D=0AUniversity of N= ottingham may be monitored as permitted by UK legislation.=