Books

The Sketch Book of Geoffrey Crayon, Gent., Nos. I-VII. New-York: Printed by C.S. van Winkle, 1819-1820. Bound in two books, Mixed states. 8.25 x 5.25", 8vos. **Previous provenance of George Washington Nesmith (friend of Daniel Webster). No. I: 1819, 2nd Printing, according to BAL 10106 (Bibliography of American Literature): Last line of copyright notice "-ving, and etching.". & Title-page imprint "101. Greenwich Street." **Includes first appearance of RIP van Winkle p. 55. No. II: 1820, printed one year after first edition - BAL 10106 found no typographic or textual variations in Part II. Pagination includes No. I as well, 169 pp. No. III: 1820, later printing. New pagination: 1-92 pp. No. IV: 1819, first printing, BAL 10106 has found no typographic or textual variations. 242 - 335 pp. **End of first book. No V: 1820, later printing. New pagination: 1-108 pp. No. VI: 1820, first printing, 120 pp total. - BAL 10106 explains variations which make this a first printing: p. 38 (last line): "species."; p. 93 (line 8): ".his/"; p. 105 (line 9): ".la-"; p. 106 (line 16): ".yeo-"; p. 114 (line 11): ".cast-iron"; p. 115 (line 13): ".and"; p. 116 (line 3): ".intelli-"; p. 117 (first line): "the.". Includes first appearance of Legend of Sleepy Hollow p. 50. No. VII: 1820, first printing, 123 pp total. - BAL 10106 explains variations which make this a first printing: p. [5] (line 2 of preliminary poem): ".they."; p. 21 (line 20): ".notes, and piling"; p. 33 (line 6): ".which lavish,"; p. 34: 22 lines of text; p. 36 (line 10): ".reccollections"; p. 41 (line 13): ".thick-"; p. 45 (line 3): "flowers."; p. 46 (last line): "tre of his cage. The scene."; p. 64 (last line): ".royal". A Discourse, Delivered at Plymouth, December 22, 1820. In Commemoration of the First Settlement of New-England. By Daniel Webster. Boston: Wells and Lilly, 1821. 104 pp, found after No. VII of Geoffrey Crayon in 2nd book. In poor condition. As is. Leather boards are generally scuffed and worn at edges and corners. All front and rear hinges are split with exposed cording. Heads and tails of spines lacking - binding exposed. Both bindings are beginning to break - fragile. Front boards attached by cording only. No front end-pages or fly-leaves in either book. Title pages of No. I & No. V (first in each new book) exhibited previous ownership signature and marginalia: G.W. Nesmith, Franklin, 1822. & Geo. W. Nesmith, March 10, 1823. Water dampness staining exhibited in both volumes, mostly around edges or at tail of gutter. Toning, foxing, and age-staining exhibited throughout text-block, but all leaves are legible. Some instances of exposed cording. Bindings are intact, but very fragile. Perfect candidates for restoration. Please see photos and ask questions, if any, before purchasing. Washington Irving (1783-1859) was an American short-story writer, essayist, biographer, historian and diplomat in the early 19th century. He is most well-known for his short-stories Rip Van Winkle and The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, for which these are FIRST EDITIONS being sold. No. I, of which Rip Van Winkle is included, is a 2nd printing (according to BAL), and No. VI, of which Sleepy Hollow is included, is a 1st printing (also according to BAL). All points of first printings have been checked and compared. George Washington Nesmith (1800-1890), previous provenance, was a justice of the New Hampshire Supreme Court from 1859 to 1870, and was later involved in the administration of the New Hampshire Agricultural College. He was described as being "an intimate friend of Daniel Webster (1782-1852)," and as "one of New Hampshire's most noted jurists." Nesmith's close friendship with Daniel Webster was "one of his most pleasant recollections," and he has long been quoted in matters relating to the history of the great expounder. He was noted as having "resembled Webster somewhat in personal appearance". Nesmith first saw Webster speak in 1818, while Nesmith was still a student at Dartmouth. He be.

Rip Van Winkle is a short story by the American author Washington Irving, published in 1819 as part of The Sketch Book of Geoffrey Crayon, Gent. The story is set in New York's Catskill Mountains and follows Rip Van Winkle, a Dutch American villager who falls asleep before the American Revolution and wakes up twenty years later to a very different world. His disappearance and return are met with incredulity by those around him. This tale is known for its themes of change and continuity, the American past, and individualism.