THE NEW MIRROR, later THE MIRROR LIBRARY. New York: Published by Morris & Willis, 1843-1844. Large octavo, 32 issues, nineteenth-century three-quarter morocco and gray cloth, spine panel lettered and decorated in gold, green coated endpapers. A complete run of this Knickerbocker literary periodical founded by Morris and Willis in 1843 to promote their own writings, with a sprinkling of other American authors and reprints of English authors. There are numerous first appearances of Willis’ work, as noted in BAL, including a greatly expanded version of PENCILLINGS BY THE WAY: WRITTEN DURING SOME YEARS OF RESIDENCE AND TRAVEL IN FRANCE, ITALY, GREECE, ASIA MINOR, TURKEY, AND ENGLAND (1844). The series was published from November 1843 to August 1844. The first five numbers were originally issued as extras to the NEW MIRROR, and the MIRROR LIBRARY was apparently not conceived of until the publication of the sixth issue in February 1844. See BAL 22785 for contents. This set was bound from original issues and does not have the half-title and vignette title page added to copies bound in publisher's cloth in one volume issued by Morris and Willis in 1844 and after. Aside from DASHES AT LIFE WITH A FREE PENCIL (1845), the 1844 edition of PENCILLINGS is Willis' most important work. BAL 22769, 22770, 22775, 22776, 22778, 22779, 22780, 22782, 22783, and 22784. Leather worn at spine ends and corner tips, some foxing to text pages, very good overall. (#162792).
Price: $150.00
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