The manuscript was completed in Florence, Italy, in March of 1893. This trial title-page was probably created for the first book publication as The Tragedy of Pudd'nhead Wilson and the Comedy of Those Extraordinary Twins (Hartford, Conn.: American publishing company, 1894).
In 1892, Francis Galton, half-cousin of Charles Darwin, published Finger Prints, the book in which he devised a classification system that continues to be used in forensic science to this day. Galton's discovery fascinated Twain and inspired him to radically revise the original plot of Pudd'nhead Wilson, attributing the invention of finger printing to his protagonist, David Wilson. Twain regarded this strategy as a strong selling point for the novel, and told Fred Hall, his business manager, that, "the finger-prints in this one is virgin ground--absolutely fresh, and mighty curious & interesting to everybody." This draft design for the title-page of Puddn'head Wilson provides a rare glimpse of the author designing his work for the press. Clemens clipped the fingerprint illustration from Galton's book and wrote instructions for the printer to make a facsimile for the title-page, which was ultimately not used.
The notes are signed twice by Clemens, using his initials "S.L.C." The top left corner of the page is removed, and a lithographed reproduction of Francis Galton's fingerprints laid down on the sheet, with Clemens's notes written alongside and beneath. Two of the three notes are cancelled.