A History of New York, from the Beginning of the World to the End of the Dutch Dynasty. Containing, Among Many Surprising and Curious Matters, the Unutterable Ponderings of Walter the Doubter, the Disastrous Projects of William the Testy, and the Chivalric Achievements of Peter the Headstrong. The Three Dutch Governors of New Amsterdam: Being the Only Authentic History of the Times That Ever Hath Been or Ever Will Be Published. A New Edition, in Two Volumes

Philadelphia: Carey, Lea, & Blanchard, 1835. Reissue. Half-Leather. Good/No Jacket. 0x0x0. Early reissue (the work was first published serially 1819-20, and first appeared in book form in 1824). Boards rubbed (more severely along bottom of volume 1 rear board), three of four spine labels absent, light 2 inch stain to top page margin of first tweo-thirds of first volume, small dealer bookplate on front endpaper of each volume, lightly foxed throughout. 1835 Half-Leather. xxv, [26]-276; vi, [7]-235 pp. Brown leather spines and corners, marbled paper over boards, gilt titles and rules. "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. Irving's good-humored spoofing had staying power, and his satire provided the city with its first self-portrait. A History of New York propelled Irving to the heights of literary stardom and even made a little history of its own: New Yorkers are called Knickerbockers to this day." ABOUT THE AUTHOR: "Washington Irving (April 3, 1783 - November 28, 1859) was an American author of the early 19th century. Best known for his short stories "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow" and "Rip Van Winkle" (both of which appear in his book The Sketch Book of Geoffrey Crayon), he was also a prolific essayist, biographer and historian. His historical works include biographies of George Washington, Oliver Goldsmith and Muhammad, and several histories of 15th century Spain dealing with subjects such as Columbus, the Moors, and the Alhambra.