CIRCUMCISION: AN ESSAY PUBLISHED IN THE JEWISH SPECTATOR, MEMPHIS, TENN.
[Little Rock]: No Publisher [Press of Tunnah & Pittard], 1893-1895? Item #43594
No Date [1893-1895?]. 1st Edition. Original printed salmon paper wrappers, 8vo, 21 pages. 23 cm.
Singerman (4874) and OCLC guess publication as Memphis, but the stated printer, the Press of Tunnah & Pittard, was located in Little Rock, the hometown of the Author, so we suggest Little Rock instead.
NLI proposes the date 1893, while Singerman suggests “1895?”
This makes it quite possibly the first Jewish book published in Little Rock, and the only Jewish book published there in the 19th Century. Singerman notes a handbill published in the city in 1884 (3235, no extant copies), an 1890 liturgical booklet published by Bloch in Cincinnatifor a Little Rock congregation, and then finally a book of poems by Fay Hempstead, a presumably non-Jewish author, in 1898 (5369), included by Singerman because it includes a poem dedicated to Moses Montefiore.
Of the printer, we can note that “James Tunnah was co-owner of Tunnah & Pittard, a commercial printing firm in late nineteenth-century Little Rock, Arkansas. The company printed, among other things, books, pamphlets, handbills, and legal briefs. The offices of the company were 113 West Third Street.Tunnah was born in Dumfernline, Fifeshire, Scotland on March 21, 1817. He arrived in the city of Little Rock in 1849. With his companion Joseph Clark he established the first marble company in the city. After Clark's death in 1852, Tunnah married the widow Helen McPherson Clark. Tunnah served as wharf master and city collector for twelve years. His son Renton Tunnah eventually took over the business. James Tunnah died on October 9, 1882” (UCentralArkansas).
OCLC: 46797039. OCLC and SIngerman together locate 3 only copies (HUC, YIVO, Yale).
Heavy wear to wrappers, but no text loss, Spine taped. Internally Good Condition. Scarce. (PBERL-1-24).
Price: $325.00