Pseudonym of American humorist Henry Wheeler Shaw (1818-1885). Two items: a 2.5 x 4 carte-de-visite photograph of Billings in a seated pose, signed on the front in ink (over a failed first attempt in pencil), and twice on the back in ink and pencil with both real and pen names, "Yours immediately, Josh Billings" and "Henry W. Shaw, Dec. 3, 1868"; and an ALS signed "H. W. Shaw, Josh Billings," one page, 8 x 11.25, May 15, 1866, in part: "I am a scribbler, with no more ambition, than to make somebody's moment happier, or easyer; I have seen something of life in its guise, and have had many cups of gaul offered me to drink, but have always politely declined. Thus have I lived, and thus my hope is to spend my days, working only when I am obliged to, and playing every chance I can get." In overall fine condition, with a small rusty paperclip impression to the top edge of the front of the photos, and two small pieces of old tape on a back edge.
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