Joe Miller's Jests. Or, the Wits Vade-Mecum.; Being a Collection of the most Brilliant Jests; the Politest Repartees; the most Elegant Bons Mots, and most pleasant short Stories in the English Language.
London: T. Read, 1739.
First carefully collected in the Company, and many of them transcribed from the Mouth of the Facetious Gentleman, whose Name they bear; and now set forth and published by his lamentable Friend and former Companion, Elijah Jenkins, Esq. [2], 70pp. Thin 12mo, bound by Riviere in 19th century straight-grained olive green morocco, a.e.g. (lightly edgeworn but sound; light foxing and toning throughout; several bookplates on endpapers and one description mounted to flyleaf); housed in an attractive cloth-backed marbled board slipcase with leather spine label. London: Printed and Sold by T. Read, 1739. Genuine first edition with "Price One Shilling" at bottom of title. Scarce. Near fine.
Extremely scarce. First edition of the most famous collection of anecdotes and humor. Compiled by Elijah Jenkins (pseudonym of John Mottley] partially from several other jestbooks. Mottley named the book in honor of Josias Miller, the famous comic actor who had died the previous year. --DNB; ESTC T124768.
Binding: Hardcover
Condition: Near Fine
Language: English
Price: $3,500.00
Item #227332