JOSH BILLINGS

JOSH BILLINGS
(1818 - 1885) 19th-century American humor writer and lecturer, the pen name of Henry Wheeler Shaw, the second most famous humorist of his time after Mark Twain. Great content A.L.S. 'H.W. Shaw', 6pp. 8vo., New York, Oct. 9, 1868, to a close friend and colleague, writing in part: 'you are the only man among the literate who have ever thought it best to say one word to me of cheer...those who have gained glory with ink...are a jealous, vain crew, who are afraid of their laurels as though they had stole them. I never expected to gain admission into such a private grounds. I never expected to get above preaching, and therefore am not discouraged if the learned, and the literary fat of the land, do scowl at me...Humor is too rare to be quarried out by the ton, the demand is always so great that the supply is sure to glut the market with unripe goods...'. Much more great literary content. Mounting remnants on the verso, some adhesive and thread from a previous binding, else very good.