On eBay Now...1875 The Phunny Book almanac Ephriam Muggins 4 in by 6.25 inch Rare/Scarce For Sale
When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
1875 The Phunny Book almanac Ephriam Muggins 4 in by 6.25 inch Rare/Scarce:
$225.00
"The Phunny Book" by Dr. Ephraim Muggins (often spelled Ephriam Muggins) is a rare. satiritcal 19th century patent medicine almanac originally publshed around 1875. Calendar cover the years 1875 and 1876. Measures 6.25 inch by 4 inch. 32 pages (including front and back cover.) Eight printed sheets of paper. Printed both sidesand folded. Thread on spine to hold it all together.
This original copy was handed down through four generations of a family from Chautauqua County, New York.(Full list of ownershps can be provided to the one lucky buyer if requested.)
The estate retains nearly one hundred other patent medicine almanacs from that era up into the early 20th century.This is one of the oldest publications in our entire family collection.
This publication is unique in that it is a humorous satirical variation of the standard almanac format.Most pages do contain serious advertisements of actual patent medicines offered by the then popularindustry. "Electric Oil" claims to treat dozens of diseases, some with obsolete names.Searches by this seller cannot find any recent offerings of this rare almanac.Last sale found on an antiquity site was ten or more years ago.
This might be the only specimen to be found outside rare publication library or museum collections.Condition: as shown by photos, this item shows some wear expected of an ephemeral paper of 150 years age.Intact and readable. Not brittle, but handle with due care.
Outside spine shows breaks along most of its length. Outside corners show folded creases and acceptable minor damage.Folds of interior pages are mostly fully intact.
Sheet color shows off-white to yellowish tint, typical of paper of this age.Selected pages of curious advertisements were "brightened" for readability in this posting.All the other images are faithful displays of the actual pages.
"Ephraim Muggins" was a recurring comedic pseudonym used in 19th-century political and satirical magazines like Puck and Judge. The character often wrote humorous open letters on contemporary issues.
The pamphlet functioned as a comic almanac.
In the late 1800s, patent medicine companies distributed almanacs to pharmacies and general sales shops,often for nominal or free distribution to households, pairing astronomical predictions with promotions for their medical tonics.
Original physical copies of the 1875 pamphlet are highly sought-after historical ephemera.Vintage medicine collectors occasionally trade original copies or reproductions.
Related Items:
1875 The Phunny Book almanac Ephriam Muggins 4 in by 6.25 inch Rare/Scarce
$20.00
ANTIQUE 1875 INDEPENDENCE HALL Cast Iron Bank Enterprise Mfg Co Large Centennial
$575.00
THE GREAT SPHINX AND THE PYRAMID OF KHAFRE GIZA EGYPT 1875 4X6 PHOTO
$7.99