OP: The Drunk's Blue Book

Frederick A. Stokes Company, New York, 1933. Hardcover. Very Good/ Fair.

Illustrator and magazine editor Norman Anthony (1889–1968) established himself as a hero to thirsty Americans by publishing his cocktail book Here’s How (1927) at the height of Prohibition. The Princeton alum attributed the majority of his success to interest from college students who were united in their commitment to finding ways to drink and to drink well, despite the government’s meddling. 

After the Volstead Act’s repeal in 1933, Anthony published, along with fellow illustrator Otto Soglow (1900–1975), The Drunk’s Blue Book, a humorous drinking etiquette (or, wetiquette, in their words) book, complete with black and white cartoons.

You’ll discover such sage advice as: “When sliding under the table the gentleman should ALWAYS allow the lady to precede him. In the case of two gentlemen, the elder should have the honor.”

If your sobriety is under question, a “simple test, which may be tried out with a policeman of the same proportions, is to see if you can kick him in the ankle. A miss is considered a sign of insobriety.”

And a section titled “How to Get into Fights” reports that an “easy road to fisticuffs is to approach a lady and gentleman seated at a table and, chucking the lady in question under the chin, say, ‘Hello, baby. Who’s your funny-looking friend?’”

Includes several pages of satirical advertisements. Good fun, mostly harmless. Ours is the scarce 1933 edition with its even scarcer jacket. The book block and case are clean and bright, while the jacket shows general wear and heavy chipping which has taken a chunk out of the top of the front panel.