Salmagundi; or, The Whim-Whams and Opinions of Lancelot Langstaff, & Others IRVING, Washington and James Kirke Paulding Americana,Literature

Two volumes. 12mo. Twenty original parts bound up with general titles and indices in two volumes. Vol. I with frontis. (illustrated portrait of "Launcelot Langstaff, Esq."). In uniform contemporary calf, red morocco spine labels. Closed tear to leaf 367-368 in the first volume. Old ownership signature on front free endpaper ("Benjamin Webb") of the first volume; engraved bookplate of a noted collector of American literature, Frank Maier, mounted to rear pastedown of first volume (mistakenly, for it's upside-down) and front pastedown of the second volume. Very light foxing to preliminaries of the first volume; withal, interiors are quite fresh. First editions, with first and early states of parts 4-20, parts 1-3 being the second edition. The portrait is the second state (of seven printed).Salmagundi is Washington Irving's rare, first original work, being the joint production of Irving, his brother William, and James Kirke Paulding. Prior to this effort, Irving's sole literary publication was the translation of a work by Depons. Notably, on p. 354 (the November 11, 1807 issue, chapter CIX) Irving gives us the first printed reference to New York City as "Gotham": "Of the chronicle of the renowned and ancient city of Gotham."One of the most bibliographically complicated works in American literature, a set of first editions of the respective parts of Salmagundi is virtually unobtainable. LANGFELD, p. 5.