first edition
1902 · London
by Irving, Washington; Edmund J. Sullivan (illustrator)
London: George Newnes Ltd, 1902. First thus. Two volumes bound in one. Each volume one of just 30 copies printed on Japanese Vellum (both number 25), signed by the illustrator, Edmund Sullivan. Bound for Brentanos by the famous English bookbinder, Cedric Chivers, in full red morocco with his signature vellucent painted illustration to the font panel. Spine with inlaid morocco details. Spine very subtly toned, otherwise a fine copy overall. A lovely example of book arts for both this handsome printing, as well as the expertly crafted binding. Complete with 2 frontispieces and 18 plates by Edmund Sullivan.
A collection of Washington Irving's short stories, including his most famous and beloved tales, Rip Van Winkle and The Legend of Sleepy Hollow (narrated by the fictional Dutch historian Diedrich Knickerbocker). "The Sketch Book was a celebrated event in American literary history. The collection was the first American work of short stories to gain international success and popularity" and while "most of the book's 30 off pieces concern Irving's impressions of England, six chapters deal with American subjects." (Britannica)
Patented in 1898, Chivers's "vellucent" bindings departed from traditional methods of creating hand-painted vellum bindings. In the 18th century Chivers's great predecessor, Edwards of Halifax, painted in reverse on the underside of translucent vellum, thereby providing a layer of protection for the design. His technique almost vanished with his death, and it was not until the 1890s that Chivers developed his own similar method for protecting the design underneath the vellum itself - the backing sheet of the vellum was painted, which was then covered in vellum which had been shaved to transparency, the vellum was then tooled in gilt. The books which Chivers thus bound have always been a favorite of collectors, and usually still present well, the vellum having served its purpose of protecting the design for many decades, as Chivers intended. (Inventory #: 6146)
A collection of Washington Irving's short stories, including his most famous and beloved tales, Rip Van Winkle and The Legend of Sleepy Hollow (narrated by the fictional Dutch historian Diedrich Knickerbocker). "The Sketch Book was a celebrated event in American literary history. The collection was the first American work of short stories to gain international success and popularity" and while "most of the book's 30 off pieces concern Irving's impressions of England, six chapters deal with American subjects." (Britannica)
Patented in 1898, Chivers's "vellucent" bindings departed from traditional methods of creating hand-painted vellum bindings. In the 18th century Chivers's great predecessor, Edwards of Halifax, painted in reverse on the underside of translucent vellum, thereby providing a layer of protection for the design. His technique almost vanished with his death, and it was not until the 1890s that Chivers developed his own similar method for protecting the design underneath the vellum itself - the backing sheet of the vellum was painted, which was then covered in vellum which had been shaved to transparency, the vellum was then tooled in gilt. The books which Chivers thus bound have always been a favorite of collectors, and usually still present well, the vellum having served its purpose of protecting the design for many decades, as Chivers intended. (Inventory #: 6146)