Why We Laugh

[Mark Twain (subject)]. Samuel S. Cox. Why We Laugh. New York: Harper & Brothers Publishers, 1876. First edition. Octavo (7.25 x 4.75 x 185 x 120 mm.). 387, [1, blank] pages (note: pages [1]-[2] are blank) with 8 page publisher's catalog inserted at the rear. Publisher's green cloth, spine lettered in gilt, front board stamped in gilt, boards ruled in black with decorative corner pieces; all edges of the text block trimmed; brown coated endpapers, flyleaves. Board edges, spine ends and corners worn, with some minor tears to the cloth; boards lightly rubbed; corners bumped, one (top of the rear board) broken. Paper label partially removed from the front paste down; previous ownership signature on the front flyleaf; faint marginal dampstaining throughout. Very good. Mark Twain discussed in chapters two ("American Humor in Particular") and three ("American Humor--Its Exaggerations, etc."). Samuel Cox was a member of the U. S. House of Representatives, serving both Ohio (1857-1865) and New York (1885-1889), and his book includes chapters of legislative humor. (#10181).