“THE FATHER OF AMERICAN LITERATURE”: HANDSOMELY BOUND SET OF IRVING’S WORKS

IRVING, Washington. Works. New York and London: G.P. Putnam’s Sons, circa 1900. Twenty-four volumes bound in 12. 12mo, modern three-quarter green morocco gilt, raised bands, top edges gilt. $2000.

“Handy Volume Edition” of Irving’s works, handsomely bound.

“Before Emerson and Lowell, [Irving] married American literature to the literature of the world. He has every right to retain the title enthusiastically bestowed upon him, ‘Father of American Literature” (Kunitz & Haycraft, 407). Includes The Sketch-Book of Geoffrey Crayon (which contains “Rip Van Winkle” and “The Legend of Sleep Hollow”), The Crayon Miscellany, The Alhambra, Salmagundi, Knickerbocker’s History of New York, Tales of a Traveller and more. Each volume with frontispiece, decorative head- and tailpieces.

A fine set, handsomely bound.