Knickerbocker's History of New York (2 Volumes)
by: Irving, Washington

Hardcover. New York, G. P. Putnam's Sons, reprint, 1894, Book: Very Good, Dust Jacket: None, Two hardcover volumes. Van Twiller Edition, with b&w illustrations by Edward W. Kemble throughout both volumes. In 1809, New Yorkers were buzzing about a series of classified ads concerning the whereabouts of Dutch historian Diedrich Knickerbocker. They were unaware that Washington Irving had invented the man entirely and placed the ads himself. Knickerbocker's purported manuscript, A History of New York, was Irving's own. Told from Knickerbocker's point of view, A History of New York is a chronicle of New York's fifty years under Dutch rule in the 1600s that plays fast and loose with the facts, to uproarious effect. A History of New York propelled Irving to the heights of literary stardom. Gilt and blue design on beveled covers, spine. Top edge gilt, decorated pages, frontispiece with tissue guard. Slight corner bump, edge wear, age darkening to spine, otherwise,very clean and tight copies.