1944 "First Edition" stated; J.B. Lippincott Company publishers, Philadelphia, New York; smaller hardbound in timberwolf grey boards with red lettering on cover and spine; good condition with unmarked pages and tight binding; inside pages signed by "R. Gilman(?), Capt Mac"; minor ageing/spotting on boards; no dust jacket.
 
Description -
The daffy Jills and Jacks of Broadway, the people of the racetracks and back-room crap games are gathered here in twelve of Damon Runyon’s most hilarious stories. 

Here is Ambrose Hammer, the newspaper scribe who tangles with a strip-dancer, a talking parrot, and a character whose noggin meets with the proverbial blunt instrument. Here is Fatso Zimpf, the horse-player who doubles for Santa Claus in Palm Beach and saves the romance of a beautiful but dumb zillionaires. And then there is “The Sky,” King of the galloping dominoes, who bets his soul against a two-dollar bill and winds up as the drummer in a street-corner mission band.

In short, here is a collection of swift stories about sentimental toughs with down-to-earth vigor and lusty laughter. Even the briefest acquaintance with them will show why Damon Runyon’s public is so fantastically loyal.