(Nast, Thomas) illustrator. TH. NAST'S ILLUSTRATED ALMANAC FOR 1874. [New York]: Harper and Brothers, (1873). FIRST EDITION. 8vo - 7-7/8" x 5-1/2". Cocoa brown pictorial paper wrappers with decoration and lettering printed in black to both front and back wrappers, with minor wear to the head and tail of spine, small losses to upper edge on both front and back, lower fore edge corner front, and upper fore edge corner back, all being marginal with no loss to any printing for what is a remarkably well preserved copy of a notoriously fragile book. 48, 6, [2] pp. The book contains an almanac and calendar for 1874, these are followed by over a dozen short pieces by various noted writers of the day, including one piece titled "Deception" by Mark Twain; bound following text of the book are eight pages of advertisements; illustrated by Nast, the "Father of the American Cartoon", with eighty-six black and white illustrations, including a full page frontispiece and an illustrated title-page. Internally the book is in near fine condition with pages that are still bright and supple. The condition of the book is VERY GOOD. EXCEEDINGLY RARE # 000734