This Will Please That Wife of Yours

Lancaster, PA: Press of Inquirer P. & P. Co., 1890. Softcover. First edition presumed, n. d. (late 19th century); 3 3/4 x 2 3/4; pp. 1-16; beige wraps, ruled and printed in black; a few small spots and a slight crease to upper right corner; illustrated with wood engravings and silhouette art; very good condition.A potpourri of ads, quackery, cookery, and racist jokes, the little booklet was published by the Dobbins, Bro. & Company as an advertisement for their Dobbins’ Electric Starch Polish. It also contained recipes for plum pudding, puff cake, lemon tart, and others, and domestic economy advice on “how to shine.†The tangential entertainment pieces included a large woodcut of an androgynous child with the captioned question: “Boy or Girl?†and a racist anecdote about a Georgia negro, illustrated in silhouette. The quackery portion of the booklet featured descriptions and adverts for Eavenson’s highly-medicated sulphur soap, Allen’s lung balsam, and so on.