July 21, 1864: New Book of Nonsense

The New Book of Nonsense was published for sale at the Philadelphia Great Central Sanitary Fair, which ran from June 7 to June 29, 1864. It is an imitation of Edward Lear’s Book of Nonsense.

  Transcript:

There was a young person in Maine,

Who, although undeniably plain,

Was possessed of such “chic”

That before she could speak,

“she did for” the “male sect” in Maine.

Citation: The new book of nonsense. A contribution to the Great Central Fair in aid of the Sanitary Commission. Philadelphia: Ashmead & Evans, 1864. A 864n