buy Antique 1854 book Way Down East, Portraitures of Yankee Life hardcover book by Seba Smith, 1792-1868 (and the original Major Jack Dowling, political satirist), editor of a Portland (Maine) weekly, The Eastern Argus, American humorist and writer.
Published by John E. Potter & Company, Philadelphia (1854); "Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1854, by Seba Smith, In the Clerk's Office of the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York." Anthology of 16 witty, humorous short stories, a slice of Yankee life; illustrated edition. Pages number 384. 7 5/8" x 5 1/4" x 2".
Very ornate dark red cloth binding with black and gold Victorian design. Inside pages are very clean and stiff, no stains, smears, or dirt; binding is tight; there is some hand writing on inside page in pencil, and some erased words above it, see third photo. Outside has scuffing, rubbing on corners. Not certain of the language to discuss antique book conditions, but will happily answer any questions you may have.
The term: "there is more than one way to skin a cat (referring to catfish, not felines) originated in this book: "This is a money digging world of ours; and, as it is said, ‘there are more ways than one to skin a cat,' so are there more ways than one of digging for money."
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Product code: Original 1854 Way Down East Portraitures of Yankee Life by Seba Smith buy Book