Mark Twain's Secret Book

In 1891 members of The Authors Club of New York came up with a terrific idea to raise funds for a permanent home for their meetings. I love their idea and want to share it with you. You could adapt it for many uses today. Plus there’s a lesson in prosperity here for you.

Let me explain…

The Authors Club of New York formed in 1882. Among its members were Mark Twain, Teddy Roosevelt, Andrew Carnegie, William Dean Howells, Henry Van Dyke, Frank Stockton, and more than a hundred others. They met socially to entertain each other and support younger, not yet successful writers.

In 1891 they conceived the idea of publishing a limited edition, one of a kind book. Over one hundred members would each write an original article, poem or story.

They would all be compiled into a hand bound leather book. Each author would sign their contribution in each book. They also agreed that all contributions would be exclusive, and never appear elsewhere, making the book very collectible.

To make it even more valuable, there would only be 251 copies of the book. No one would get paid, including the printer. Everyone donated their expertise for the larger cause.

Rare book signed by Twain etc

That’s exactly what they did, too. They titled the collection “Liber Scriptorum” (Latin for “book of writings”). Printer Theodore Low De Vinne bound 221 copies of the book (unbound but signed contributions were sold separately) in morocco-gilt leather and offered them for $100 each, about $2,500 each in today’s dollars.

As you might guess, copies of this rare book are scarce today. Still, I located two of them. One was unbound and selling for $25,000. The other was bound, numbered 147, in perfect condition, all contributions signed by their authors, and selling for a lower five figure price.

Truly limited edition

I wanted it.

I’m a fan of Mark Twain. And Teddy Roosevelt. And Andrew Carnegie. I’m an author. Ive been in writers’ groups. I’ve published books where others contributed articles. I felt this book calling me.

But five figures for a book?

Each author signed their article in the book

This was pushing the limits of my wealth set point.

The most expensive book I own is a triple signed first edition of A Magician Among the Spirits by Harry Houdini. It stretched my money mindset to get it at the time. But I did. And I’m glad I did. I love that book.

But five figures for a book?

I cleaned and prayed and meditated on the Liber Scriptorum book for a week. It wouldn’t get out of my mind.

I asked the seller to send me more photos. He did. It made me want the book even more.

But I still didn’t buy it.

Then I received a check for the exact amount of the book. That’s usually my sign to make the purchase. After all, there’s the money for it.

But I still didn’t buy it.

My mind kept delivering limiting beliefs to me. Every time it did, I erased them.

But I still didn’t buy the book.

I went on a radio show and talked about my bestselling free e-book, Attract Money Now. After it, I remembered a key step from the book, called prosperous purchasing. In short, if you have the money, and you have the desire, buy it. Else you’re reinforcing lack and limitation.

Click on image to read book free

But I still didn’t buy it!

I had to let yet another day go by.

Then I remembered Dr. Hew Len, my coauthor for the book Zero Limits, saying if you clean for three days and the desire is still there, then go for it.

So I did.

I now own that amazing book.

And I love it.

Lesson: Even prosperity authors have growth work to do.

Question: What are you resisting investing in right now, but only because of fear?

What would you do if you weren’t afraid?

Ao Akua,

joe

PS — Also keep in mind that what Mark Twain and the others did in 1891, you can do today. It’s the secret behind numerous books, including my own The E-Code, and of course the legendary “Chicken Soup” series of books. You gather contributions from authors and collect them into “your” own book. Think about it.

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