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Washington Irving, 20 September 1852.
Details
"Rip Van Winkle": one of "the absurd creatures of my brain."
Washington Irving, 20 September 1852.
IRVING, Washington (1783-1859). Autograph letter signed ("Washington Irving") to Messrs. Camp & Perkins, Sunnyside, 20 September 1852.
One page, bifolium, 218 x 170mm (some browning, partial fold separations and split at backfold, small loss at lower left corner).
On the "mystery of the Rip Van Winkle stove." A charming and very funny letter in response to the unsolicited gift of a stove honoring one of "the absurd creatures of my brain.": "Your letter of the 14th instant," Irving writes, "dispels the mystery of the Rip Van Winkle stove, which made its appearance some days since to the great wonder and perplexity of my household, and the misgivings of the womankind in my kitchen who feared it might have been spirited hither by some of the goblins of the KaatsKill mountains. Your letter relieves us from all doubt of its being an honest stove made by modest hand, and that may be safely used without fear of goblin trick; and lets me know to whom I am obliged for so very quaint and complimentary a present. I cannot but feel highly flattered that Mrs. Judge Foote should deem the absurd creatures of my brain worthy of being illustrated by her plastic talent and that you gentlemen should give them a chance for perpetuity beyond the perishable medium of ink and paper; by casting them in iron and giving them a fireside currency." A terrific letter on one of Irving's most iconic literary characters. Provenance: Christie's, New York, 4 December 2009, lot 73.
Washington Irving, 20 September 1852.
IRVING, Washington (1783-1859). Autograph letter signed ("Washington Irving") to Messrs. Camp & Perkins, Sunnyside, 20 September 1852.
One page, bifolium, 218 x 170mm (some browning, partial fold separations and split at backfold, small loss at lower left corner).
On the "mystery of the Rip Van Winkle stove." A charming and very funny letter in response to the unsolicited gift of a stove honoring one of "the absurd creatures of my brain.": "Your letter of the 14th instant," Irving writes, "dispels the mystery of the Rip Van Winkle stove, which made its appearance some days since to the great wonder and perplexity of my household, and the misgivings of the womankind in my kitchen who feared it might have been spirited hither by some of the goblins of the KaatsKill mountains. Your letter relieves us from all doubt of its being an honest stove made by modest hand, and that may be safely used without fear of goblin trick; and lets me know to whom I am obliged for so very quaint and complimentary a present. I cannot but feel highly flattered that Mrs. Judge Foote should deem the absurd creatures of my brain worthy of being illustrated by her plastic talent and that you gentlemen should give them a chance for perpetuity beyond the perishable medium of ink and paper; by casting them in iron and giving them a fireside currency." A terrific letter on one of Irving's most iconic literary characters. Provenance: Christie's, New York, 4 December 2009, lot 73.
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Heather Weintraub
Specialist, Books, Manuscripts, & Archives