[Irving, Washington] | The Sketch-Book of Geoffrey Crayon, Gent., complete in 7 parts, first edition, first issue, the Litchfield copy

The Passion of American Collectors: Property of Barbara and Ira Lipman

[Irving, Washington]

The Sketch-Book of Geoffrey Crayon, Gent. No.I[-VII]. New York: C. S. Van Winkle, 1819-1820

Seven parts in one volume, 8vo (210 x 126 mm). Without the final blank in No. I, and the anti-piracy slip in No. II (as often), marginal closed repair to title-page and prospectus of No. I, marginal loss to II:153 not affecting text. Contemporary tree calf, gilt tooling and lettering, marbled endpapers; sympathetically rebacked with the original spine laid down, a few scuffs to boards. Housed in a cloth slipcase with folding cloth chemise. 

First editions, first printings, the Litchfield copy complete in seven parts, containing the first appearances of two of Irving's classic short stories: "Rip Van Winkle" (Part I) and "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow" (Part VI).

"That Americans here first read of Rip Van Winkle and Ichabod Crane is not so important in influencing the culture of the country, as that they learned of these and other gentlemen, and of the Indians, and of old England, through the medium of a musical, rhythmical style, quiet humor, and dreamy charm, which instinctively taught taste and sweetness, 'taking pleasure and giving pleasure and always playing the companion rather than the teacher.'" (Grolier) 

PROVENANCE

Edward Hubert Litchfield (bookplate, his sale, Parke Bernet, 3-5 December 1951, lot 544) 

REFERENCE

BAL 10106; Grolier 100-31; Langfield and Blackburn 15