THE WRITINGS OF ROBERT C. SANDS, IN PROSE AND VERSE. WITH A MEMOIR OF THE AUTHOR. New York: Harper & Brothers, 82 Cliff-Street, 1834. Octavo, two volumes: pp. [1-3] 4-30 [31-32] [1-3] 4-395[395: blank]; [1-5] 6 [7-9] 10-408 + 32-page catalogue inserted at rear (paged [1-2] [1]-30), half title leaf in volume II, none called for in volume I, flyleaves at front and rear, frontispiece (engraved portrait of the author), original rose cloth, printed paper spine labels, fore and bottom edges untrimmed. First edition, first printing. A posthumously published miscellany of Sands' prose and verse with an excellent biographical sketch by his friend Gulian C. Verplanck. The fiction collected here (all of which is found in volume II) comprises "The German's Story," "The Man Who Burnt John Rogers" (a Gothic tale also published separately as an undated 64-page pamphlet titled THE EXECUTIONER, BEING A TRUE IMPARTIAL AND MOST EXTRAORDINARY ACCOUNT, OF WHAT HAPPENED TO THE MAN, WHO BURNT THE REV. JOHN ROGERS, AS RELATED BY HIS SON JAMES ROGERS), "A Simple Tale," "Boyuca," "Mr. De Viellecour and His Neighbours," "Scenes at Washington" and "Ghosts on the Stage." Also includes his two best poems, "Yamoyden; a Tale of the Wars of King Philip," historically important for its early use of the American Indian, and the fantastic "Dream of Papantzin," a blank verse epic poem founded on a Mexican Legend. Essays include the important "Domestic Literature" as well as the interesting "Police Literature," which is critical of then current crime reporting in the popular press. Robert Charles Sands (1799-1832) was a respected and beloved New York lawyer, author, journalist, editor, and member of the Knickerbocker literary group whose literary labors were suddenly cut short by an apoplectic stroke. "A growing interest in literature resulted in Sands' giving up his legal practice to join the editorial staff of ST. TAMMANY'S MAGAZINE, published by the 'Literary Confederacy,' during 1823-1824. He started the ATLANTIC MAGAZINE in 1824 and when it was absorbed by the NEW YORK REVIEW in 1825, assisted William Cullen Bryant in editing it for two years. With Bryant and Gulian C. Verplanck he published an annual, THE TALISMAN (1828-1830), in which appears some of his best work ... Though his name is inextricably woven into the history of early Knickerbocker publications, his works have few readers today. At the beginning of his career, he was influenced by Sir Walter Scott, especially in his metrical romance, THE BRIDAL OF VAUMOND (1817) [not included here], dedicated to Washington Irving, and YAMOYDEN ... (1820). His studies of Spanish language and history resulted in several publications, including his finest prose work, 'Boyuca' in TALES OF GLAUBER-SPA (1832)." - Kunitz and Haycraft, eds., American Authors 1600-1900, p. 669. "A native New Yorker, a man of brilliant promise and a close friend of Bryant ... There is no denying Sands' real talent, though its expression was limited by his narrow environment. His verse is not important, but his well-handled short stories and sketches like 'A Simple Tale' and 'Scenes in Washington' reveal him as a writer of real accomplishment." - Fullerton, pp. 237-38. See Frank, Through the Pale Door: A Guide To and Through the American Gothic 419. Foley, p. 246. Wright (I) 2276. Sabin 76442. Early owner's signature dated 1834 on both front free endpapers. Cloth tanned, some soiling to cloth, spines darkened, printed paper labels rubbed and chipped, endpapers and flyleaves foxed, scattered light foxing throughout, a very good copy. Actually, a remarkably nice copy of this important, neglected book. (#157184).
Price: $250.00
No statement of printing.