Offered for sale by Adam Langlands of 'Shadowrock Rare Books' - for more information please contact him via email at adamlanglands@gmail.com 

David D. BENTON.

An Exhibition in the Hall of Inanimate Speakers; or a personification of various material and ideal objects:  designed, not only to amuse, but to improve the mind in virtue, piety and benevolence. Ravenna, Ohio: printed by Dewey & Wadsworth, 1843. Small octavo (7 x 4 5/8in; 178 x 117mm). Pp. [1-3]-4-112. Original green/grey thin paper wrappers, the upper cover set with an alternative title,  a poem and the imprint, the lower cover set with a short testimonial, from Rootstown, [Ohio], dated July 26, 1843’ subscribed with five printed names (some discoloration to backstrip).

Fine condition, quite strange and quite rare: the last copy listed as having sold was in 1978 (when it was listed as being ‘entirely unrecorded bibliographically’ – not the case today, see below).

A lengthy poem ‘featuring’ various ‘speakers’. After an introduction by Davis Benton, the following ‘Inanimate Speakers’ rise: Mr. Introduction; Mr. Paper, Mr. Bigotry, Mr. Goodwill, Mr. Debt, Mr. Smile, Mr. Morrow, Mr. Good Behaviour, Mr. Philologus, Mr. Step, Mr. Ink, Mr. Pen, Sir Title, Mr. Money, Mr. If, Mr. Satire, and ending with Squire Harmony.

AAS #33652; Morgan. Bibliography of Ohio imprints, 1796-1850, 4499; OCLC 11739697