Author: LEWIN, Leonard C. (editor)
Title: A Treasury of American Political Humor
Description: New York, Delacorte Press, 1964. Hardcover. Small 4to. Deep blue cloth with silver spine lettering, pictorial dust jacket. 480pp. Illustrations. Near fine/very good. Quite minor jacket edgewear. Wonderful, tight first edition of this thick anthology featuring contributions from many dozens of the usual suspects -- from Will Rogers and Mark Twain to Barry Goldwater and Ralph Ellison. This intriguing copy has been boldly inscribed and signed by Lewin in blue ballpoint on the front flyleaf: "To / Milt / Fisher / Len." Milton Fisher (1922-92) was a noted Chicago attorney who served as political consultant and major fundraiser for Senator Adlai E. Stevenson III (1930-2021) during four state and two U.S. Senate campaigns. Apparently Fisher passed along this copy to his friend for inspiration on the campaign, as it hails from Stevenson's personal collection. Surprisingly, Stevenson's father, Governor Adlai E. Stevenson II, famed for his wit and eloquence, is not among this book's contributors, although he is mentioned in a piece on the 1952 presidential campaign. "The Wit and Wisdom of Adlai Stevenson" was published the following year, and while the governor was noted for his dry humor, the son was not far behind -- as his copy of this book attests. Quite a choice association copy. .

Keywords: Humor & Folklore


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