[General Tom Thumb (Charles Sherwood Stratton)] | Rare, first edition of the first publication about Tom Thumb

[General Tom Thumb (Charles Sherwood Stratton)]

An Account of the Life, Personal Appearance, Character and Manners of Charles S. Stratton. New York: J.W. Harrison, 1843

Pamphlet of 4 bifolia, sewn (140 x 105 mm). Title, handcolored frontispiece of Tom Thumb at the American Museum; some browning, dampstaining and finger-soiling, a few small marginal tears. Original brown wrappers, printed in black, pictorial advertisement for P.T. Barnum's American Museum to recto of rear wrapper; wrappers detached but present, upper wrapper with internal open tear and a few stains, worn overall with chips and some loss.

First edition of the first known publication about Stratton, which would go on to have numerous reissues. Rare. We can only locate two records of this being sold at auction in the last 40 years.

"In strength, activity and vivacity, the General is remarkable ... Never was a human being, of any size, ever blessed with a kinder heart, or a more excellent disposition. He never forgets an acquaintance, and cherishes his friends with the greatest affection. There is something extremely winning in his manners, and this, with his strange beauty, has made many persons, and especially ladies, so strongly attached to him as to become his almost daily visitors."