[Irving, Washington] — Hirschfeld, C.C.L. | Der Winter, Washington Irving's copy

[Irving, Washington] — C.C.L. Hirschfeld

Der Winter. Leipzig: Christian Gottlob Hilscher, 1769

12mo. Leaves toned with occasional light spotting. Half calf over spotted boards; worn at joints and head and foot of spine, covers scratched, upper cover loosening. Collector's clamshell box.

First edition, with Washington Irving's ownership inscription to the fly leaf, London, 1819.

Acquired during Irving's seventeen-year stay in Europe following the War of 1812, this work on moral philosophy heralds from the German enlightenment-era writer C.C.L. Hirschfeld. Irving was much inspired by German culture, especially folk tales, and following the publication of The Sketch Book he travelled to Germany in search of material to use in his stories. The Sketch Book, published the same year as the present ownership inscription, drew much from the German folktale entitled Peter Klaus by Nachtigal. His accumulation of German literature during this period, including the present volume, reflects a profound understanding and continued study of Germanic culture.

An important association copy with esteemed provenance.

PROVENANCE:

P. Boehtlingens (signature to fly, 1770) — Washington Irving (signature to fly, London, 1819) — Albert Louis Cotton (bookplate to front pastedown) — Sir James Stuart Bart (bookplate to front pastedown) — Dr Noël J. Cortés (bookplate to verso of fly and blind stamp of arms to title) —John Valentine (bookplate to end fly) — Mary Barber Robinson (bookplate to rear pastedown)