Dinner to the Honourable George S. Graham by the Bench and Bar of Philadelphia, Tuesday Evening, February 28th, 1899. The Stratford
Philadelphia: Press of M.D. Wood Printing Company, 1899. Very Good -. Item #14099
Philadelphia: Press of M.D. Wood Printing Company, 1899. First Edition. Slim octavo; publisher's red textured paper-covered boards, upper cover lettered and ruled in gilt, all edges gilt; 63pp. Extremities a bit scuffed, evidence of glue residue to front endpapers from previously removed materials, rear hinge cracked but holding, mid-20th century ink price to front free endpaper, else Good to Very Good overall. This copy presented to attendee Charles H. Downing with his name embossed in gilt on front cover.
Menu bound with accompanying materials provided at a banquet held in honor of the former District Attorney of Philadelphia George S. Graham (1850-1931), later a member of the U.S. House of Representatives. During his storied career as D.A. Graham brought a number of notorious cases to trial, including that of one of the country's first serial killers H.H. Holmes, who confessed to no less than twenty-seven murders, though he was only tried and executed in 1896 for that of his business partner.
The menu at hand includes the text of all speeches provided by the toastmaster and the event's speakers (including laughter and applause when necessary). The all-male attendance included no fewer than twelve judges who would have enjoyed G.H. Mumm's extra dry with their "selle de venaison, croquettes d'epinards, petit pois," as well as cigarettes with the sorbet.
Four copies located in OCLC as of September, 2022, none outside Pennsylvania.
Price: $125.00