[Appeal to Subscribers for RATIONALE OF THE DIRTY JOKE Second Series]

La Clé des Champs, France, 15 April 1974.. One very full page, quarto. Mechanically reproduced typescript, signed in ink. Folded for mailing, very good. With accompaniments. A tremendously detailed plea for financial support to facilitate the publication of the "Second Series of my socio-analytic study, 'Rationale of the Dirty Joke' ...," printed on letterhead of Legman's KRYPTÁDIA THE JOURNAL OF EROTIC FOLKLORE. Legman outlines the sometimes difficult publication status of the earlier volume, the make-ready costs for the second volume, etc., concludi8ng: "Tis is a tremendous book, and I guess my literary testament. It out to be published. Please help/ Sincerely G. Legman." He indicates that funds should be send to the Secretary- Treasurer of Breaking Point, in New Jersey, who is handling production, rather than to him in France. Publication did take place in 1975, under the main title, NO LAUGHING MATTER .... and it was eventually reprinted, with its predecessor, by Indiana University Press. The appeal is accompanied by the envelope in which it was originally sent to Legman's friend and contemporary, novelist John Clellon Holmes, along with the printed subscription form. An uncommon ephemeral item with significant content.