Samuel L. Clemens
Pen Name "Mark Twain" (Two Fathoms)
Drawing from the Authors Collection
Mark Twain 1835- 1910, writer, lecturer and western intellectual. Who's works were central to the American civil war and western history, was an exceptionally popular author, who's reputation is still highly regarded today. He wrote travel books, an autobiography and novels. His most famous novels "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer (1876) and the Adventures of Huckleberry Fin"(1884), both which were based upon his life along the Mississippi River in Hannibal Missouri. Has been remembered and memorialized in many ways. His writings are still available, the internet has many webpages dedicated to Mark Twain, and many movies have made about him, his characters and many parallel characterizations in 20th and 21st centuries have appeared. These adaptations have been created for our entertainment. Below you will find a series of promotional business sized cards, that were probably sold in local gifts shops, no doubt somewhere along the Great River Road, on the Mississippi River. A body of water which Abraham Lincoln once called the "Father of All Waters." These small business sized cards were created from photos credited to John Winkler and Kenneth Botkin. Not much is known about either of these men. Though some clues were found online. Kenneth Botkins. is probably the photographer, Kenneth C. Botkins of Hannibal Missouri (see Find a Grave) . Much less is known about John Winkler and no substantial information appeared online about him. The photos on the cards were taken using various film types including Kodachrome, Ektachrome and Anscochrome colors. Kodchrome is known for it's rich warm tones and ultra fine grain. This film was great archival film because of its stability and can last over one hundred years, with minimal fading. Ekadachrome, while it had vivid colors and faster processing, is less stable and can fade over time, especially towards blue of magenta. Anscochrome was introduced in the 1950's and was generally used in 16mm by both amateur and professional photographers alike. The cards in this collection are in exceptionally good condition and tell a lot of Mark Twain's home in Hannibal Missouri. Each is accompanies by its description below. Which is located on each card, in the same way that an RPPC post card would display it.
The original package which contained the cards
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