Liberty Tree: with the Last Words of Grandfather’s Chair
by Hawthorne, Nathaniel
- Used
- near fine
- Hardcover
- Condition
- Near Fine
- Seller
-
Stevenson, Maryland, United States
Payment Methods Accepted
About This Item
32mo. Original green cloth, black paper label lettered in gold. Small hole at spine, label rubbed, front hinge cracked but holding. Half morocco case.
First edition. A rare presentation copy inscribed by Hawthorne to his uncle on the title-page: "To John Dike with the author's remembrance" and additionally signed by Hawthorne at the end of the preface.
The narrator of Hawthorne's Liberty Tree is Grandfather, who regales the listening children with historical tales, assisted by the prop of an old chair that, he imagines, once held a variety of great figures. Grandfather speaks proudly of the American Revolution—"The world has seen no grander movement that that of our Revolution, from first to last"—and focuses on events of the Revolution in and near Boston, including the Stamp Act, the Boston Massacre, the Boston Tea Party, and the coming of General George Washington.
This book was published by Hawthorne's future sister-in-law, Elizabeth Palmer Peabody. Hawthorne was close to the recipient of this copy, his uncle John Dike, a merchant who lived in Salem. Hawthorne later sent Dike copies of The House of the Seven Gables, A Wonder Book for Boys and Girls, and The Blithedale Romance.
When this copy sold in Gribbel's 1941 sale, the auction catalogue noted: "This is believed to be the first copy of this work bearing an autograph presentation inscription by the author, to appear at public sale in America"—we have not located another.
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Details
- Bookseller
- 19th Century Rare Book and Photograph Shop (US)
- Bookseller's Inventory #
- 42820752
- Title
- Liberty Tree: with the Last Words of Grandfather’s Chair
- Author
- Hawthorne, Nathaniel
- Book Condition
- Used - Near Fine
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Binding
- Hardcover
- Publisher
- E. P. Peabody
- Place of Publication
- Boston
- Date Published
- 1841
- Weight
- 0.00 lbs
Terms of Sale
19th Century Rare Book and Photograph Shop
30 day return guarantee, with full refund including shipping costs for up to 30 days after delivery if an item arrives misdescribed or damaged.
About the Seller
19th Century Rare Book and Photograph Shop
About 19th Century Rare Book and Photograph Shop
Glossary
Some terminology that may be used in this description includes:
- Cracked
- In reference to a hinge or a book's binding, means that the glue which holds the opposing leaves has allowed them to separate,...
- Spine
- The outer portion of a book which covers the actual binding. The spine usually faces outward when a book is placed on a shelf....
- Inscribed
- When a book is described as being inscribed, it indicates that a short note written by the author or a previous owner has been...
- Morocco
- Morocco is a style of leather book binding that is usually made with goatskin, as it is durable and easy to dye. (see also...
- Hinge
- The portion of the book closest to the spine that allows the book to be opened and closed.
- Cloth
- "Cloth-bound" generally refers to a hardcover book with cloth covering the outside of the book covers. The cloth is stretched...