Selected Special Collections

Washington Irving Collection

Rare editions of Irving's works donated by Leonard Kebler, (dispersed in the Division's collections).

Leonard Kebler donated fine copies of almost all the first editions of Irving's works published during his lifetime, a number of the original parts of writings which appeared serially, several interesting Irving manuscripts, and some of his secondary and posthumous publications. Most of the volumes are attractively covered by morocco slip-cases.

Noteworthy among the Kebler gift:

• Early items: Salmagundi; or, the Whim-Whams and Opinions of Launcelot Langstaff, Esq., and Others, a series of sketches published irregularly in twenty pamphlet numbers, the first dated Saturday, January 24, 1807, and the last Monday, January 25, 1808.
• Spanish themed works: The first American and English edition of A Chronicle of the Conquest of the Granada, 1831 as well as Voyages and Discoveries of the Companions of Columbus and The Alhambra, 1832.
• Western narratives including, The Crayon Miscellany, published in 1835 in their original cloth with white paper labels intact as well as the first edition of Astoria, The Rocky Mountains: or Scenes, Incidents, and Adventures in the Far West, 1837
• Biographical works including The Biography of James Lawrence, Esq., 1813, The Biography and Poetical Remains of the Late Margaret Davidson, 1841, Oliver Goldsmith, 1849, The Lives of Mahomet and His Successors, 1850 as well as The Life of George Washington, 1855-1859
• Also of note is a five page autograph letter dated August 15, 1850 addressed to Henry Brevoort, Jr.

See: The Leonard Kebler Gift of Washington Irving First Editions for details