Lot Details
Lot 140
IRVING, WASHINGTON Salmagundi; or the Whim-Whams and Opinions of Launcelot Langstaff....
New York: David Longworth, 24 January 1807-25 January 1808. First editions of the 20 original parts bound in two volumes. Full brown morocco by Stikeman, the covers paneled in gilt, the spines tooled and lettered in gilt and with raised banks, gilt turn-ins, top edge gilt. 5 5/8 x 3 1/2 inches; both volumes with a general title (BAL B in both) and contents leaf, the frontispiece portrait in the first state without caption, Part I in the rare first state with the "Dress he!" reading, other parts in mixed states as usual. The joints starting and the bindings toned, faint ink signature to general title of volume I, otherwise clean.
The first original work by Washington Irving, with contributions from James Kirke Paulding and Irving's younger brother William Irving Jr. A challenging work bibliographically, the BAL notes "the final collation of Salmagundi has not been achieved" and most copies are invariably mixed state. The present set was touted as "A Perfect Copy of the First Edition" on a laid-in slip, the lot number on the slip corresponding to a penciled note on the verso of the front free endpaper reporting this the [William D.] Breaker copy, sold [at Rains Galleries, Brooklyn] on November 27, 1935, lot 378.
BAL 10097.
C The Julius and Theodore Cohn Library
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