No place, no date (ca. 1809). 1 p. 9 1/2 x 8 in. (24 x 20.3 cm). Fragment, comprising p. ii of the introduction from "A History of New York": "In this arduous undertaking, which has been the whole business of a long and solitary life...In the conduct of this inestimable work, I have adopted no individual model, but on the contrary have simply contended." Sheet trimmed, silked, edges spotted and darkened; tipped into paper folder; in full brown morocco fall-down-back box. Including correspondence between a previous owner Frank L. Pleadwell, Irving bibliographer William R. Langfeld, and collector George S. Hellman, ca. 1931-1934, regarding the composition of Irving's original manuscript, and the provenance of this particular leaf. Also including a copy of the same owner's letter to A.S.W. Rosenbach about MS. leaves in his collection, as well as pages from old catalogues describing other "History of New York" MS. leaves.