Zincali Gypsies of Spain, Compl.1stUS 1842 Songs Poetry

"The Zincali or an Account of the Gypsies of Spain. With an Original Collection of Their Songs and Poetry", by George Borrow, complete both volumes bound in one, published by Wiley and Putnam, New York, 1842. First American Edition, First Printing.

From the PREFACE

...The author's acquaintance with the Gypsy race in general dates from a very early period of his life...Whatever he has asserted, is less the result of reading than of close observation...the original state and condition of the Gypsies, and the causes which first brought them into Europe, he has stated what they are at the present day, what he knows them to be from a close scrutiny of their ways and habits, for which perhaps, no one ever enjoyed better opportunities; and he has, moreover, given-- not a few words culled expressly for the purpose of supporting a theory, but one entire dialect of their language, collected with much trouble and difficulty; and to this he humbly calls the attention of the learned, who, by comparing it with certain languages, may decide as to the countries in which the Gypsies have lived or travelled...

With respect to the Gypsy rhymes in the second volume...in a philosophic point of view, are more valuable than the most brilliant compositions pretending to describe Gypsy life, but written by persons, who are not of the Gypsy sect. Such compositions, however replete with fiery sentiments. and allusions to freedom and independence, are certain to be tained with affection. Now in the Gypsy rhymes there is no affection, and on that very account they are different in every aspect respect from the poetry of those interesting personages who figure, under the names of Gypsies, Gitanos, Bohemians, etc., in novels and on the boards of the theatre...

"POESIAS DE LOS GITANOS

I.

Me ligueron al vero,
Por medio de una estaripel,
Le penelo a mi romi,
Que la mequelo con mi chabore.

II.

Abillelo del vero,
Dique a mi chabori,Io me chalo de aqui..."
RHYMES OF THE GITANOS

I.

Unto a refuge me they led,
To save from dungeon drear;
Then sighing to my wife I said:
I leave my baby dear.

II.

Back from the refuge soon I sped,
My child's sweet face to see;
Then sternly to my wife I said,
You've seen the last of me..."

"George Henry Borrow (1803-1881), was an English author who wrote novels and travelogues based on his own experiences around Europe. Over the course of his wanderings, he developed a close affinity with the Gypsy nomads of Europe, and they figure prominently in his work. His best known book, "Lavengro", is largely autobiographical. Borrow began to write, documenting his experiences upon his travels. The "Zincali, or an Account of the Gypsies in Spain" (1841) and "The Bible in Spain" (1843) gave the author instantaneous success. "Lavengro" (1851) is considered to be his masterwork, but "The Romany Rye" (1857) is also well regarded. He documents the peoples, places and languages he finds in detail.

Borrow was born at East Dereham, Norfolk, the son of a recruiting officer, and had a somewhat wandering childhood. He studied law, but languages and literature became his main interests. In 1825, he began his first major European journey, walking in France and Germany. Over the next few years he visited Russia, Portugal, Spain and Morocco, acquainting himself with the people and languages of the various countries he visited. After his marriage in 1840, he settled near Lowestoft, but continued to travel both inside and outside the UK."

US: Priority (c 2-4 days) ------- $18.50
Canada: Priority (c 2-6 weeks) -- $27.50
World: Priority (c 2-8 weeks) --- $37.50
Condition Report: Hard boards, embossed, brown cloth, gold stamped title on spine, portrait of the author is attached inside front cover, 5" x 8"; 323 + 135 pages + "Zincali, Vocabulary of Their Language" [35 pages] + MISCELLANIES IN THE GITANO LANGUAGE with English Translation [15 pages] + Publisher's advertising. A few yellowish stains, very good binding and condition. [khca]