Easton Press: WASHINGTON IRVING: DIEDRICH KNICKERBOCKER'S HISTORY OF NEW YORK

Description: Easton Press leather edition of Washington Irving's "Diedrich Knickerbocker's History of New York," Illustrated with lithographs by Don Freeman, Frontispiece Portrait of Irving by David Riss, a COLLECTOR'S edition, one of the MASTERPIECES OF AMERICAN LITERATURE series, published in 1968. Bound in deep burgundy leather, the book has marbled paper end leaves, acid-free paper, Symth-sewn binding, a satin book marker, hubbed spine, gold gilding on three edges---in FINE condition. Washington Irving, who lived from 1783 – 1859, was an American short story writer, essayists, biographer, historian, and diplomat of the early 19th century. "Diedrick Knickerbocker" is a Dutch-American historian who is dressed in a specific type of baggy-kneed trousers referred to as 'knickerbocker.' The word is used to refer to people who live in Manhattan and was adopted in a shortened form as the 'Kicks" by the city's NBA professional basketball team. Irving's book as a satire of the politics of the day. To promote the book, Irving started a hoax by contacting various newspapers in NYC that "well-known Dutch historian Diedrich Knickerbocker has disappeared from the hotel, and that he had left his landlord without paying his bills." "Left his lodgings some time since, and has not since been hear of, a small elderly gentleman, dressed in an old black coat and cocked hat. There is some reasons for believing that he is not entirely in his right mind." The author promised that if Mr. Knickerbocker remained absent, he would publish a manuscript that the man had left behind. Many people at the time believed the story and when Irving finally revealed it was all made up he gained enough local fame to help the book become an instant success, practically launching his literary career. The author introduces many well-known New Yorkers, including Peter Stuyvesant, whose proud days brought out the good old Dutch aristocracy in all its grandeur. Peter was a tyrannical potentate, ruling with a rod of iron; Jacobus Van Curlet, Commodore Van Kortlandt, William the Testy, Van Corlear, Hermanus Van Clattercop, and Commodore Hudson. 351 pages---a RARE title in this series! I offer combined shipping.

Price: 34.95 USD

Location: Walnut Ridge, Arkansas

End Time: 2024-12-07T14:54:06.000Z

Shipping Cost: 8 USD