Sketch Book of Geoffrey Crayon, Gent. No. I [-VII] by IRVING, Washington: (1819)

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1st Edition - Hardcover - C.S. Van Winkle, New York - 1819 - [IRVING, Washington]. The Sketch Book of Geoffrey Crayon, Gent. New York: Printed by C.S. Van Winkle, 1819[-1820]. First edition, first issue of all parts. Two octavo volumes (8 x 5 inches; 203 x 128 mm), bound together from the original seven parts. Volume 1 is parts 1-4, volume II is parts 5-7. BAL describes parts 1, 6, and 7 as having additional first printing points, of which our copy has all points as described in BAL; and state B (no priority) of the text on page 240 of part III in first volume, line 12: "on the". Collates exactly according to the BAL. iv, [5]-94; [97]-169,[-170, blank]; [171]-210, 203-242; [243]-301[-302], [2], [303]-335,[-336, blank]; [337]-443, [1, blank]; [1]-120; [1]-123, [1, blank] pp. Part 2 without the anti-piracy slip (not required for a complete collation). Bound without final blank in Part I as usual. Almost uniformly bound in full mottled tree calf, but not with exact gilt stamping. Elaborately stamped in gilt on boards and spine. Each volume with two red morocco spine labels, lettered in gilt. Gilt board edges. Gilt dentelles. Marbled endpapers. Volume II with some chipping along outer hinge, not affecting the gilt. Some soiling and foxing throughout, mainly to volume I. Part III with tear to top edge of title-page and following leaf, not affecting text. A repaired closed tear to same 2nd leaf in part III. A few other tears to top margins, not affecting text. Pages 127 (part II) and 317 (part IV) with repaired closed tears, but with no loss of text. Overall a very good, attractive set. Each volume chemised and housed in matching quarter morocco slipcases. This handsome copy of the first edition of Irving's first collection of short fiction, is made more rare by the fact that it is bound here from the original parts. Contains the complete first appearance of some of Irving's most famous stories, "Rip Van Winkle" and "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow." "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, 100 American, 31.) BAL 10106. Langfeld & Kleinfield, pp. 15-22. Grolier, 100 American, 31. HBS 68522. $7,500. - Sketch Book of Geoffrey Crayon, Gent. No. I [-VII]