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

Lot 7
15.06.2023 10:00UTC -05:00
Classic
Sold
$ 50 400
AuctioneerCHRISTIE'S
Event locationUSA, New York
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The auction is completed. No bids can be placed anymore.
Archive
ID 967677
Lot 7 | Salmagundi, uncut in original wrappers
Estimate value
$ 40 000 – 60 000
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).



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