(Tobacco) Hamer, John (editor, printer and publisher). The Smoker's Text-Book. Leeds: The Editor, 7, Briggate, Leeds, 1863. FIRST EDITION. 64mo - 2-3/4" x 2-1/4". Original brown cloth covered beveled boards with titles and decoration stamped in gilt to front cover and spine, and with decorative border blind-stamped to back cover, with light rubbing to the gilt, the head and tail of spine, the corners and edges for what is still a nice copy of the book. A.E.G. Dark brown endpapers with the gilt stamped, red morocco bookplate of Willis Vickery to front paste-down, with offsetting to tipped in page opposite the bookplate; tipped in page with information on the type used in printing the book including: "The type ('Brilliant') from which this book is printed, is the smallest movable type in the world." viii, 112 pp.; engraved title page preceding the printed title page illustrated with Nargileh water pipes, tobacco plants, and in the center, scales weighted on one side by a crown, and counterbalancing it on the other side a smoking pipe.
"To all true smokers, of every land and clime, this work is respectively dedicated by the editor." That editor, John Hamer, goes on to praise the attributes and pleasures of smoking with pieces both poetical and prosaic. "The opening essay suggests that those who object to tobacco consider it an indolent habit, to which the smoker replies: 'Most true, and therein lies the excellence.' Hamer defends the practice as not a sin or a crime, and considerably less harmful than 'gluttony, drunkenness, cheating, lying, swearing, high-way robbery, or treason." Internally one page with three small inconspicuous spots of foxing and minor finger marks to the engraved title page with the rest of the interior in fine condition. The condition of the book is VERY GOOD. Only ten copies located on OCLC/WorldCat. RARE FIRST EDITION COPY IN LOVELY CONDITION. # 001255