[Manuscript Book]: Suitable Reflections on a Pilgrim's Progress from Bachelordom to What's-to-come. A Serio-Ludicro Tragico-Comico Poem. Being a Faithful Account of Excruciating Sorrow and wherein is particularly shown how the spacious corridors, ante-rooms, back porch and pantry of Bachelor's Hall became damp, moist & unpleasant, from the many divers tears that leaked from umbrella racks and cus-pitoons upon Charles Mac Rae's Resignation. [Alternate title]: An Epithalamium for Bachelors: For Twenty Years a Household Remedy. [Cover title]: Needles and Pins, [Needles and Pins], Open the covers, And Trouble Begins

String-tied wrappers in hand-painted canvas dust jacket. 32mo. (5" x 4.75"). (16)pp. Light edgewear and rubbing, near fine in near fine dust jacket with a modest stain on the rear panel. Artist's engraved business card laid in with a manuscript presentation. A wonderful and wonderfully funny hand-lettered and hand-illustrated book by Walter Jack Duncan, celebrating Charles Mac Rae's courtship of his fiancée, his dwindling days of bachelorhood, his impending marriage, and the horrifying spectre of babies, with just the right touch of sophomoric humor one would expect from a talented 21 year old in 1902. Every page is embellished or illustrated in a most pleasing manner reminiscent of W.W. Denslow. Walter Jack Duncan was a noted illustrator born in Indianapolis in 1881. He studied at the Art Students League in New York City with John H. Twachtman, and illustrated for the popular magazines of the period: *The Century Magazine*, *Scribner's*, *McClure's*, and *Harper's Monthly Magazine*. He also served as an official artist with the A.E.F. during World War I and illustrated many books, including several by Christopher Morley. A lovely production, suitable for reprinting. …