[COFFEY, John (1852 ? ca. 1912)] Life and Adventures of the Skeleton Dude. New York: N.Y. Popular Publishing Co., ca. 1890. Hand-colored pictorial wrappers. Illustrated. 32mo. Dampstained, worn, wraps chipped (lower with one corner lacking, affecting some text on wrapper). Coffey?s career in show business began later than most, as his emaciated figure only began to develop around the age of 30. His 5? 7? frame supported only 70 pounds when Coffey was at his lightest. He went on to develop the character of a nattily-dressed skeleton ?dude? who was a ladies? man, and used mock marriages to generate publicity throughout his career. He staged at least twenty mock ceremonies with another living skeleton, Emma Schaller, and in one instance was recorded as marrying a circus fat lady, Gertie Platt. This ?pitch? book was sold after his performances and describes ?how he became thin,? tells a truncated version of his life story, and reproduces some of his recitations.