The Diary of a Nobody.

Bristol & London: J. W. Arrowsmith; Simpkin, Marshall, Hamilton, Kent and Co. Limited,, [1892]. The funniest book in the world First edition in book form, first impression. Upon publication The Diary of a Nobody was "at once recognized as one of the most amusing novels in the English language" (ODNB). The first impression is rare. George Grossmith was a regular contributor to Punch whilst pursuing his career as a performer. From 1877 to 1889 he created nine of the patter baritone roles in the Gilbert and Sullivan operas, and achieved considerable fame as an actor without "any voice to speak of". Grossmith also wrote for the stage and achieved successes with a number of his comic songs. However, his most memorable work is The Diary of a Nobody which began as a series of contributions to Punch in 1888. With illustrations provided by his brother, Weedon, Grossmith published a revised and expanded version in book form in 1892. The work has been recognized as a comic masterpiece. Evelyn Waugh wrote in 1930 that it was "the funniest book in the world". The first issue can be distinguished by the use of leaves in the gatherings being used as pastedowns. Octavo. Original brown cloth, spine lettered in gilt, front cover lettered and decorated in black and blue, decoration extending onto spine, publisher's advertisements to rear endpapers. Double portrait frontispiece of the authors from photographs, numerous in-text illustrations from line drawings by Weedon Grossmith. Extremities slightly bumped and rubbed, very minor ink mark to front cover, slight browning to free endpapers, lacking tissue-guard to frontispiece, some stitching becoming loose; a very good and bright copy. Wolff 2818 (describing a later issue); Evelyn Waugh, "One Way to Immortality", Daily Mail, 28 June 1930.