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First Edition? Apparently not. 1900 on the copyright and title page. First editions of G. W. Dillingham are supposedly indicated by Same Date on the copyright and title page. But across the way from the title page is a page of reviews of this book and at the top of this page is the following: ' "Widow Magoogin," By John J. Jennings. 4th Edition.' Odd. Here's one of the reviews: "Shrewd, sound, sensible, positive and always good-natured, the 'Widow Magoogin' is at once a character in literature and a feature in the history of the times.-- N. Y. World. Better than a first edition, this book is signed and inscribed by the author. Once listed, it will be the Only signed copy for sale on the Internet. The inscription reads: 'To William Hoge Esq, with compliments and best wishes of the author, John J. Jennings, New York, Sept 24, 1900.' Found only one signed copy of his other book 'Theatrical and Circus Life'--$500.00. Widow Magoogin: "Widow Magoogin" began to free her mind on topics of the day to her neighbor, Mrs. McGlaggerty, as far back as 1882. She continued her conversations, first in the St. Louis Critic, and later in the New York Sunday Mercury, both weekly publications, until 1894, when the character of the latter periodical changed, and "Widow Magoogin" returned to private life. She was not the first of her family to acquire popularity through the "gift of the gab," for her cousin, Mike Magoogin, whom I also created, and who attained to fame as the talking Irish policeman of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, had preceded her by several months in public favor. Officer Magoogin took great interest in Signor Fopiano, who kept a peanut stand on his post, and he whiled away many a pleasant quarter of an hour at the Italian Merchants corner, eating his "goobers" and telling him what he thought of the way the world was wagging and the ship of state was sailing. "Widow Magoogin" took up the discussion of these and other subjects, where Officer Magoogin had left off, and the present volume contains a few of the remarks which were made by her to Mrs. McGlaggerty in her capacity of commentator upon, and interpreter of, passing events.' You can see the light green covers of Widow Magoogin in the photos. Not too bad for 1900. Light handling soiling, a small stain on the rear cover, a darkened spine, lightly rubbed corners with a tiny bit of rub-through at the bottom ones, not much wear at the spine ends, pretty solid edges, bright gilt design on the front and lettering on the spine, a somewhat darkened gilt top page edge, and a brown stain around the juncture between the middle and bottom page edges which can be seen at the bottom corner of every page through to page 282. The book runs 364 pages. While this stain does not come anywhere near the print on any page, it does very much stand out the way a spot on a dog's face might. The book is pretty square and quite solidly bound from cover to cover. Most of the pages are nicely tight, a small minority less so, but no instance of a crack or space between any of the facing pages or between the front cover and any of the facing pages. The rear cover doesn't quite have a crack or space, but half an inch or so of the paper of the last page is slightly curled up, And the blank rear end paper is gone (you can see it tiny bit of it sticking out from the juncture). Getting back to the pages, there is a small half-moon stain off the top edge of a majority of the pages. It does not touch any of the print. There is also a little bit of light staining just off the top edge of many of the pages, also not coming anywhere near the print. Otherwise, the pages are mostly clean with only a very occasional spot here and there. I didn't see any turn-down corners or placeholder creases. The very tip of two bottom corners were turned in. Flattened them out. Just a tiny crease. There are no markings. No attachments. And the author's signed inscription is the only writing to be found anywhere in the book. Seller Inventory # 003968
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