# Is "The Sketch Book of Geoffrey Crayon, Gent." by Washington Irving (as 'Geoffrey Crayon') a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of The Sketch Book of Geoffrey Crayon, Gent. by Washington Irving (as 'Geoffrey Crayon') (C. S. Van Winkle, 1819–1820) is identified by: The American first edition was issued serially in seven paper-wrappered parts (Nos. The US true first is the New York Van Winkle part-issue (1819–1820).

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- The American first edition was issued serially in seven paper-wrappered parts (Nos
- I–VII) printed by C. S. Van Winkle, New York, 1819–1820, with Part I dated 1819 and containing 'Rip Van Winkle' (No
- VI carries 'The Legend of Sleepy Hollow')
- Genuine parts are in their original printed wrappers
- Recorded points include printing points in the first printings of Parts I, VI and VII; a copyright-infringement slip inserted in Part II at page 103; and a reading in Part III at page 240, line 12 (Blanck records two states with no priority established)
- The London Murray two-volume edition
- Publisher imprint reads C. S. Van Winkle

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | Washington Irving (as 'Geoffrey Crayon') |
| Publisher | C. S. Van Winkle |
| Year | 1819–1820 |
| True first | US edition |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | The American first edition was issued serially in seven paper-wrappered parts (Nos |
| Book-club edition exists? | — |

## Points of issue
The American first edition was issued serially in seven paper-wrappered parts (Nos. I–VII) printed by C. S. Van Winkle, New York, 1819–1820, with Part I dated 1819 and containing 'Rip Van Winkle' (No. VI carries 'The Legend of Sleepy Hollow'). Genuine parts are in their original printed wrappers. Recorded points include printing points in the first printings of Parts I, VI and VII; a copyright-infringement slip inserted in Part II at page 103; and a reading in Part III at page 240, line 12 (Blanck records two states with no priority established). The London Murray two-volume edition (1820) is the first English book edition.

## Is this the true first?
The US true first is the New York Van Winkle part-issue (1819–1820). The London Murray two-volume set (1820) is the first English edition. Complete sets of the original American parts in their wrappers are the earliest and scarcest state.

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Bound-up later editions and reprints lack the original numbered parts in wrappers; the genuine first is the part-issue with Part I dated 1819.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *The Sketch Book of Geoffrey Crayon, Gent.* by Washington Irving (as 'Geoffrey Crayon') a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/the-sketch-book-of-geoffrey-crayon-gent
CC BY 4.0. Part of the Canonical First-Edition Points of Issue dataset (https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/api/first-edition-titles.json). Last reviewed 2026-07-04.