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Only issue of this rare comic/satire magazine we have found...
Only issue of this rare comic/satire magazine we have found...
Item # 695403
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March 11, 1848
THE JOHN-DONKEY, New York, March 11, 1848
* Very rare publication
A very rare comic/satire magazine, this being the first--and only--issue we have encountered. It existed for just 29 weekly issues from Jan. 1 thru July 15, 1848.
Its significance is such that Frank L. Mott, in his book "A History of American Magazines, 1741-1850", devoted a chapter to this title.
A few comments from his book include: "...John-Donkey always maintained the tradition of his stupidity... he claimed only to be stupid and was continually trying to prove his stupidity...Most of John-Donkey's articles, long and short, were satires upon contemporary events or fads, upon organizations, movements, and persons. Politics were prominent...The first page of each issue bore a series of pictures of John Donkey himself in various attitudes...Each number contained a political cartoon, full pate in size, and printed on an unbacked leaf [the print in this issue of 'The Pennsylvania Thimble-Rigger', blank on the reverse]...It is very probable that the seven libel suits filed against the John-Donkey in May had something to do with its demise...".
This is issue XI, sixteen pages, 7 1/2 by 10 1/4 inches, very nice condition.
Category: Pre-Civil War
No Longer Available
