Sidelight on "Big Apple"

[Fred Shapiro]

The earliest known usage of "Big Apple" meaning New York City is dated
1909 (the New York Historical Society/Cohen discovery, supported by
Safire), or 1924 (the Popik discovery, supported by Shapiro), or 1928 (the
Shapiro discovery, supported by Cohen).

The following 1897 citation that I have discovered, although clearly not
an example of "Big Apple" meaning New York City, might be considered to
join the 1909 citation as a coincidental foreshadowing of the term:

1897 _N.Y. Times_ 10 Oct. SM10  An entertaining little book entitled "Some
Facts About the New York Market," has been issued by the Merchants'
Association, and it is exciting considerable comment in other cities.  Its
unique feature is the illustration by means of graded pictures, of the
relative size of New York's industries, and the industries of six or eight
of the large cities of this country. ... In the fruit and nut trade New
York takes precedence with a big apple, while the second city has only a
cherry.

Fred Shapiro


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Fred R. Shapiro                             Editor
Associate Librarian for Public Services     YALE DICTIONARY OF QUOTATIONS
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