Salmagundi, uncut in original wrappers - photo 1
Salmagundi, uncut in original wrappers - photo 2
Salmagundi, uncut in original wrappers - photo 3

Salmagundi, uncut in original wrappers

Sold
$ 50 400
Auction dateClassic
15.06.2023 10:00UTC -04:00
Auctioneer
CHRISTIE'S
Event location
USA, New York
Archive
The auction is completed. No bids can be placed anymore.
Archive
ID 967677
Lot 7 | Salmagundi, uncut in original wrappers
Salmagundi, uncut in original wrappers

Washington Irving, 1807

[IRVING, Washington (1783-1859), and William IRVING (1766-1821) and James Kirke PAULDING (1778-1860).] Salmagundi; or, the Whim-Whams and Opinions of Launcelot Langstaff, & Others. New-York: Published by David Longworth, 24 January-31 December 1807[-1820].



A remarkable survival, uncut in original wrappers. Irving is widely considered the first American man of letters, and these are his first major writings, a series of satirical miscellanies lampooning New York society. Born in New York City as the youngest (and apparently favorite) of 11 children, the cosmopolitan and well-connected Irving initially studied the law. He passed the bar exam in 1806 but quickly lost interest. His main occupation in the years directly following was Salmagundi, a collaboration with a group known as the "Lads of Kilkenny"—“a loosely knit pack of literary-minded young blades out for a good time”—which included his eldest brother William and William's brother-in-law, James K. Paulding (Burrows & Wallace, Gotham, p.416). "Federalist in politics, conservative in social attitude, and humorous in intention, these early essays represent the position and manner to which Irving was to cling throughout his career. He was now famous as author, wit, and man of society" (Hart). Among other things, Irving is credited with giving New York City its nickname "Gotham" in Salmagundi's pages.



Rare: no copy of Salmagundi in wrappers has appeared at auction in over fifty years, since it was last sold at Parke-Bernet in 1970. That catalogue touted, "Of great rarity: no complete set in the original wrappers has appeared at auction; the Braislin sale in 1937 contained only 9 miscellaneous parts." The present set is comprised of eighteen first editions (Parts III-XX; four of which are second state and two intermediate), with the third edition of Part I and the second edition of Part II. Importantly, bibliographers Langfeld & Blackburn note that "the first edition wrapper may have been only a trial issue. If Longworth [the publisher] wished to protect his copyright he would have had to print a copyright notice [not present in the "first edition" wrapper], which he at once did, and printed the second edition which is entirely different. The number of first edition wrappers seems to have been very small." The present copy is in the "second edition" wrappers, which bear the lengthy copyright notice. BAL 10097; Langfeld & Blackburn, pp. 1-11.



20 volumes, 12mo (164 x 101mm). First state of the frontispiece portrait of "Launcelot Langstaff" in part 8 (occasional foxing or soiling, a few tears). Original sewn wrappers, all but one uncut (general wear at spines, some fraying at edges, occasional soiling, a few covers torn or detached). Provenance: most copies with issue numbers in early ink to wrappers – Thomas J. Whiteside (ownership inscription to covers of several parts).



Address of auction CHRISTIE'S
20 Rockefeller Plaza
10020 New York
USA
Preview
15.06.2023
Phone +1 212 636 2000
Fax +1 212 636 4930
Email
4FQ.AYGKAGLUQ@FO3G@
Conditions of purchaseConditions of purchase
Shipping Postal service
Courier service
pickup by yourself
Payment methods Wire Transfer
Business hoursBusiness hours
Mo 09:30 – 17:00   
Tu 09:30 – 17:00   
We 09:30 – 17:00   
Th 09:30 – 17:00   
Fr 09:30 – 17:00   
Sa closed
Su closed

More from Creator

The original manuscript for "The Field of Waterloo"
The original manuscript for "The Field of Waterloo"
$5 000
The Crayon Miscellany and The Rocky Mountains
The Crayon Miscellany and The Rocky Mountains
$500
The Sketch Book, in original wrappers
The Sketch Book, in original wrappers
$40 000
A History of New York, the Greenhill-Bradley Martin copy
A History of New York, the Greenhill-Bradley Martin copy
$1 000
Voyages and Discoveries, with autograph letter
Voyages and Discoveries, with autograph letter
$500
Bracebridge Hall, uncut in original boards
Bracebridge Hall, uncut in original boards
$1 000
The Alhambra, uncut in original boards
The Alhambra, uncut in original boards
$500
Life of George Washington
Life of George Washington
$5 500

Related terms

Frequently asked questions

First of all, you should register to be able to purchase at auction. After confirming your email address, enter your personal information in your user profile, such as your first name, last name, and mail address. Choose a lot from the upcoming auction and the maximum amount you want to place on it. After confirmation of your choice, we will send your application by e-mail to the appropriate auction house. If the auction house accepts a request, it will participate in the auction. You can view the current status of a bid at any time in your personal account in the "Bids" section.
Auctions are performed by auction houses and each of the auction houses describes their terms of auction. You can see the texts in the section "Auction information".
The results of the auction are published within a few days after the end of the auction. In the top menu of the site, find the tab "Auctions". Click on it and you will be on the auction catalog page, where you can easily find the category "Results". After opening it, select the desired auction from the list, enter and view the current status of the interested lot.
The information about the auction winners is confidential. The auction winner will receive a direct notification from the auction house responsible with instructions for further action: an invoice for payment and the manner in which the goods will be received.
Each of the auction houses has its own payment policy for the won lots. All auction houses accept bank transfers, most of them accept credit card payments. In the near future you will find detailed information for each case in the section "Auction information" on the page of the auction catalog and the lot.
Shipment of the won lot depends on its size. Small items can be delivered by post. Larger lots are sent by courier. Employees of the auction houses will offer you a wide range to choose from.
No. The archive serves as a reference for the study of auction prices, photographs and descriptions of works of art.