June 16 Monday – Sam’s notebook: “Harper’s. Booksellers’ informal reception. 4 p.m. (Say 4.30?) / 10.30 a.m. documents to sign” [NB 45 TS19]. Also: “1 man had old vol of cyclopedia, other had another. Each an expert on his letter” [ibid.]. Note: this last a story idea?

Sam was present at Harper & Brothers when the members of the American Booksellers’ Association visited Harpers and joined in a luncheon. The New York Times, p.9, June 17, took note of the gathering:

Col. Harvey welcomed the visitors. Among the members of the staff present were:

Mark Twain, James McArthur, W.D. Howells, Hamblen Sears, John Kendrick Bangs, Edward W. Townsend, Robert W. Chambers, D.A. Rogers, J. Henry Harper, Will Carleton, Hamlin Garland, Charles H. Baswell, Ernest Ingersoll, Van Tassel Sutphen,  F.T. Leigh, Henry E. Rood.

While reunions of booksellers and publishers are of frequent occurrence, the meeting of booksellers and authors was considered a unique departure.

Note: June 28 issue of Harper’s Weekly, p.814 ran a group photograph of the authors and guests at the above convention. Twain is prominent in the left foreground [Tenney 36]. Note: nearly all the men in the large group of a hundred or more were wearing black; Sam is seated in front sitting profle to the camera, wearing gray or brown. The MTP gives the photograph this date.