Books

vi, 354 pages. Upper board and first blank detached, binding otherwise sound; half title present. Old small bookplate of Edward Allison [motto: Faire Sans Dire] partially torn away from front pastedown. Heavy foxing to first few and final few leaves; occasional light foxing within. Strip cut away at head of title page .75 inch deep, not affecting text. October 1938 letter from Goodspeed's Book Shop to former owner in Halifax, NS: "Dear Sir: The London, 1820 edition of the Sketch Book has no particular value. We are enclosing herewith, a brief list which will show the kind of books and pamphlets we are anxious to buy." [Printed list in 2 columns recto & verso: Books Wanted By Goodspeed's Book Shop]. Also laid in: two leaves in an unknown hand listing in three columns: Name of Book / Author / Price Paid. 21 titles on recto of two leaves, 7 titles verso of one. A particularly juicy, if not fanciful, list: 1855 Brooklyn Leaves of Grass: 2 bucks; 1599 Venus and Adonis: $500. Title 18: Tamerlane Boston 1827 / Edgar A. Poe / $500.

The Sketch Book of Geoffrey Crayon, Gent. is a collection of 34 essays and short stories including 'Rip Van Winkle' and 'The Legend of Sleepy Hollow'.