[IRVING, Washington (1783-1859)]. The Alhambra, London, 1832, 2 volumes, large 8vo, contemporary calf-backed blue paper boards. FIRST ENGLISH EDITION. With 4 other works by the same author in 6 vols. (8)

[IRVING, Washington (1783-1859)].  The Alhambra. By Geoffrey Crayon. London: Henry Colburn and Richard Bentley, 1832. 2 volumes, large 8vo (225 x 145mm). Half titles, one-page of publisher's advertisements inserted at the front of vol. II and 4-pages at the end (variable mainly light spotting and staining). Contemporary [?or probably the original publisher's] calf-backed blue paper boards, uncut (some ink stains to spines, head of spines of vol. one chipped, lacks lettering-pieces, extremities rubbed). Provenance: "Lady Brooke, Great Oakley" (old signature on the front free endpapers of each vol.); "Ladies' Society" (see "Notice" below). FIRST ENGLISH EDITION of this collection of nine supernatural tales, and the last work published under the author's pseudonym "Geoffrey Crayon". It preceded the first American edition by about three weeks. A contemporary printed "Notice" is pasted onto the front free endpaper of vol. one, stating, "Many complaints having been made respecting the irregular manner in which the Books belonging to the Ladies' Society are forwarded. [sic] It is particularly requested that the Members belonging to this Society will forward the Books in circulating, immediately after the time allotted for keeping them is expired; a compliance with which would tend greatly to keep up and restore the regularity of the Society. N.B. It is requested that each Lady will forward the Books to the next Member free of any expense." The front pastedown of the same volume contains an autograph list of ladies who have borrowed the book during 1832, and the day and month on which they did so, commencing with Lady Brooke on May 18th. Bleiler The Guide to Supernatural Fiction 886; Langfeld & Blackburn Washington Irving: A Bibliography p.32; Wright I, 1373. With 4 other works by the same author in 6 volumes, namely Bracebridge Hall; or, The Humorists (London, 1822, 2 vols., 8vo, attractively bound in contemporary half calf gilt, FIRST ENGLISH EDITION), Old Christmas: from the Sketch Book of Washington Irving (London, 1876, 8vo, illustrated by R. Caldecott, original blue pictorial cloth gilt, FIRST SEPARATE EDITION THUS, the text first appearing as part of the Sketchbook of Geoffrey Crayon, Gent. in 1809), Knickerbocker's History of New York (New York, 1894, 2 vols., large 8vo, illustrations by Edward W. Kemble, original pictorial cloth gilt; first published in 1809) and The Alhambra (London, 1896, 8vo, illustrations by Joseph Pennell, original decorated cloth gilt, wear to upper cover, reprint). Provenance: The Property of a Collector. (8)