Journal of Washington Irving - 1828, and Miscellaneous Notes on Moorish Legend & History. Edited by Stanley T. Williams, with an Introduction by Williams, and a Map and Four Plate Facsimiles of Sketches by Irving. Issued 1937 in Hardcover by American Book Company. OP

The "Journal of Washington Irving - 1828, and Miscellaneous Notes on Moorish Legend & History" was first published in hardcover format by the American Book Company New York, in 1937. Washington Irving, aside from creating such immortal masterpieces such as "Rip Van Winkle" and "the Legend of Sleepy Hollow", was an essayist, biographer, and historian. He was also an official diplomat for the United States government, having been appointed as Ambassador to Spain in the 1840s. Prior to that he had been invited by the previous Minister to Spain to join him in Spain, suggesting that Irving could avail himself of the many manuscripts that were coming to light in Spain. Irving happily visited the Minister (Mr. Alexander Hill Everett), spending the time consulting such manuscripts as he could find. It was in 1828 that Irving published his multi-volume biography of Christopher Columbus ("A History of the Life and Voyages of Christopher Columbus"), which was a book that was popular in both the United States and in Europe. The "Journal of 1828", here offered is the posthumous First Edition as edited by Stanley T. Williams. It details Irving's experiences in Spain - the accommodations, the food, the sights and persons he met. It is quite fascinating, and is augmented by notes that Irving made about Moorish legends and history. Illustrated with a line map, and four facsimiles of sketches by Irving (all printed on calendered paper), the book is now out of Print. This copy is noteworthy, not only as beinga work by one of America's greatest authors, but -physically - for retaining both the dust-jacket , and the inner glassine liner. The binding is plain, but sturdy cloth. TITLE : Journal of Washington Irving - 1828, and Miscellaneous Notes on Moorish Legend & History AUTHOR : Washington Irving (1783 - 1859) EDITOR : Stanley T. Williams (1888 - 1956) INTRODUCTION : Stanley T. Williams IMPRINT : American Book Company PLACE : New York DATE : 1937 EDITION : First Edition (Posthumous) STATUS : OP PHYSICAL DETAILS : Contains a two-page map and four plate illustrations, printed on calendered paper; has the editor's Introduction, footnotes, and a very brief Addendum; xv +80 pages; 5 1/4" x 7 7/8" (approx. 12 mo) ; textured dark blue, cloth-covered boards with gilt lettering on spine and front board; on the front board is simply printed in gilt, Journal 1828, this was given a slightly darker blue background within a gilt border/ text-block edges and end-papers plain; the book has a dust-jacket printed black on white; beneath the jacket is a secondary glassine liner (which is most often not present). CONDITION : BOOK - VERY GOOD PLUS - JACKET : GOOD - GLASSINE LINER : VERY GOOD This is a previously owned book that remains clean and attractive, with the following particulars noted : EXTERIOR -- The top extremity of the spine and the top edges of both boards have a bit of fading - else the binding is clean and gilt lettering bright; shelf rub to bottom cover edges is negligible; the text-block edges are slightly toned, else clean. BINDING -- Solid - tight. INTERIOR -- The end-papers display a bit of toning- most noticeably on the paper over the hinges - else the interior is clean and has no marking - no marginalia, and no signatures. DUST-JACKET -- A bit ragged about the edges - with nicks, small tears and small loss at the top back panel edge; surface rub is mild and the whole remains clean. The front flap still has the original price.It is protected from further wear by a clear, archival mylar cover. The glassine liner is remarkably intact, with only a couple of closed edge tears; the glassine is obviously - and unavoidably - darkened, but still - it is rarely present , and especially in such good condition. A very nice addition to any collection devoted to Washington Irving.…