Story Title: The Specialist
Issue #: No. 1
Date of Publication: 1929
Edition: Thirteenth Printing
Publisher: Specialist Publishing Company
Country of Origin: United States
Language: English
Writers: Charles (Chic) Sale
Characters: Lem Putt (the narrator, a small-town "specialist" in building outdoor toilets / privies)
Key Facts: The Specialist is a classic piece of American humor from 1929. Written and performed by vaudeville actor Charles "Chic" Sale, it is a hilarious first-person monologue by Lem Putt, a self-proclaimed expert in constructing outdoor privies (outhouses). The book is filled with folksy, witty observations about design, customer preferences, and rural life in early 20th-century America. It became enormously popular, selling over 600,000 copies in its early printings. This small, saddle-stitched booklet is a beloved piece of American vernacular humor and is often cited as one of the funniest short books ever published. The cover proudly proclaims “More Than 600,000 Copies Sold” and features numerous glowing review quotes.
Page Count: 32 pages (including covers)
Condition: Very good hardcover in an intact worn, slightly chipped dust jacket. Please refer to photos for condition. From the library of George Wirth of Wirth Circus family (Name on free fly leaf)
