Bracebridge Hall; or, The Humorists
London: John Murray, 1822. First English Edition, First State. Full leather. Two volumes. 8vo. Pp. iv, [3], 4-393; iv, [3], 4-403. Full contemporary diced calf in gilt tooled borders, gilt titles in black morocco lettering pieces between gilt rules and decorations on the spines, blind tooled turn-ins, sprinkled edges. Seal armorial bookplate of William Willoughby Cole, Earl of Enniskillen on each front pastedown. Vol. I flyleaf signed Mrs. Charles Simpson above gift inscription in Italian of Signore Carlo Williams "Alla signorina Anna..." Vol. I front hinge parting, board edges rubbed, minimal foxing & bookplate transfer to endpapers, leaves else crisp and bright. A handsome set with exquisite bookplates. Very Good+. Item #7659 The follow-up to the Sketchbook of Geoffrey Crayon is a series of loosely related narratives and essays written while traveling and socializing in Europe. Its success firmly established the author as the first American man of letters. BAL: 10110.
The first of Irving's works to be published simultaneously in the US and UK, though the US edition did not include five of the pieces present here. First state of the first edition: vol. II ends at p. 403.
Price: $400.00