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(Xt) "terentius Phlogobomus," Pseudonymn [Judah, Samuel B. H. ] : GOTHAM AND THE GOTHAMITES, A MEDLEY

New York: S. King For The Author, 1823

First edition. Original printed boards, small 12mo, lvi, [94] pages. "This was suppressed, and the author and publisher were both imprisoned and fined. It is a satire on the New Yorkers"--Sabin 36827; Rosenbach, American Jewish Bibliography, 242. Shoemaker 12971; BAL 11020. Pages untrimmed as issued. Suppressed libelous satire of New York high society, mocking over 100 local personalities, by early Jewish American dramatist Samuel B. H. Judah (1804-1876) . His plan to publicize this book was nothing short of brilliant. Immediately following publication of Gotham and the Gothamites, Judah paid to have flyers posted throughout New York City, offering a reward for the identity of the anonymous author. He then sent anonymous letters to many of the personalities he had described in the book, calling their attention to the book's existence--one of whom was playwright (and eventual Sheriff of New York) Mordecai Manuel Noah, the subject of ten footnoted pages. Noah sued, with the trial finding Samuel Judah was guilty of libel, fined, and imprisoned, though he was pardoned five weeks later because of ill health. He was eventually admitted to the New York bar and practiced law there for over 50 years. Some foxing as expected, all endpapers present, touch of wear to crown of spine and and some rubbing to the covers front, but a nice solid clean copy with all original elements present. About Good++ Condition. (AMR-57-13-BDR)

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