Mark Twain composed the story in pen on notepaper between 1876 and 1883. Early editions were simple publications, type-written on Bureau notepaper in A4 size. They sent personally addressed letters to each of Balliol's new freshers on Balliol headed notepaper. A cheque, he argued, could be written on notepaper. Turkey Mill notepaper was also used in the House of Commons library. Each of these donors had headed notepaper and realistic-looking fictitious addresses, often at blitzed premises. He described himself on his parliamentary notepaper as the "Socialist MP for Makerfield". Brand-Lochryn was a make of notepaper sold by the sponsors the "R A Brand".