FIRST AMERICAN EDITIONS OF THE COMPLETE CRAYON MISCELLANY, FINELY BOUND

IRVING, Washington. The Crayon Miscellany… No. 1. Containing a Tour on the Prairies. WITH: No. 2. Containing Abbotsford and Newstead Abbey. WITH: No. 3. Containing Legends of the Conquest of Spain. Philadelphia: Carey, Lea, & Blanchard, 1835. 12mo, mid-20th century full red morocco-gilt, elaborately gilt-decorated spines, raised bands, marbled endpapers, top edges gilt. $600.

First American editions of Irving’s accounts of his travels through the U.S. West, England and Spain, elegantly bound in full red morocco-gilt by Riviere & Son for Dr. Henry Garsson, with his name on the front board of each volume.

In 1832 Irving joined the party of Indian Commissioner Henry L. Ellsworth on his expedition to the land of the Osages and Pawnees. “Everything relating to aboriginal life or manners had an attraction for Washington Irving which he could not resist. The hardy fur-trapper, with his trusty rifle and his dusky bride, scorning with the fierce pride of independence the sweets of civilization; the wild warrior of the plains, in his swift foray on the herds of the civilized intruders on his domains or in the bloody invasion of a neighboring tribe, all had for the author a warm coloring which he loved to paint. It is of such scenes, blended with the softer traditions of Indian lore, and the dreams of the better land, this book is composed. Irving eagerly seized the opportunity offered by a government mission to the Pawnees, of observing for himself the peculiarities of a savage race; and of what he saw he has made the most charming picture ever painted of its life” (Field, 186). The third volume is the first edition, preceding the London edition by two months; the first two volumes are first American editions, each published just one month after the respective London firsts. With 18 leaves of publisher’s advertisements at rear of Tour, 18 such leaves at rear of Abbotsford and four at rear of Legends. Sabin 35139. Howes I86. Langfeld & Blackburn, 33. Wagner-Camp 56:2. Finely bound for New York engineer Dr. Henry Garsson, perhaps best remembered as the subject of a congressional investigation. In 1946, “Senator James M. Mead of New York launched an investigation of war contract procurement and [Senator Andrew Jackson] May’s alleged association with an Illinois munitions firm headed by Henry M. Garsson. May, it was charged, had steered $78 million in war contracts to Garsson and his associates… After the Mead committee turned the matter over to the Justice Department, on January 23, 1947 a federal grand jury indicted May, Henry Garsson and Murray Garsson on charges of conspiracy to defraud the government… On July 3, the three defendants were convicted of conspiracy, May on charges of taking bribes, and the Garssons of paying them” (ANB). Although “four principal manufacturers of fuses for the 4.2 inch chemical mortar shells were responsible for defects which caused the deaths of 38 American soldiers and injuries to 127… the Garsson companies under inquiry by the Senate War Investigating Committee were free of any blame” (New York Times, September 5, 1946).

A beautiful set in fine condition.