THE YANKEY IN LONDON. BEING THE FIRST PART OF A SERIES OF LETTERS WRITTEN BY AN AMERICAN YOUTH, DURING NINE MONTHS RESIDENCE IN THE CITY OF LONDON.; Vol.1 all published.
New York: Printed and published by Isaac Riley, 1809. First edition, Volume 1 [all published]. 12mo. ix, (3, blanks), 180 pp. Early use of the term "Yankey" (i.e., "New Englander") in fiction. The work is comprised of 14 letters of an imaginary tourist, an epistolary account of an American in London who writes to his friends in New England, commenting on national traits, fashions, literature, and language; famous literary forgers and booksellers are among the people described. Tyler (1757-1826; jurist and playwright) was dissolute, running through his money and womanizing; he succeeded in maintaining his anonymous authorship for this book, apparently even from his publishers (cf. Thomas Tanselle's "Royal Tyler," Harvard U. Press, 1967, pp. 189-205). Sabin 97621 (quoting Gilman): "It is proper to state that Judge Tyler never crossed the Atlantic, his description of scenes in London being entirely imaginary." BAL 20735; WRIGHT I, 2630; AMERICAN IMPRINTS 18799. Some foxing and soiling to text, one signature pulled; still, a very good copy. Contemporary (publisher's?) red half-calf and marbled boards (rubbed, edges and corners bumped), gilt title, rules and ornaments on spine. (11173). Item #63285
Price: $850.00