The Scarlet Letter

Boston: Ticknor and Fields, 1850. One of 2,500 copies published of this true first edition, on 16 March 1850, according to C.E. Frazier Clark Jr.'s definitive "Nathaniel Hawthorne - A Descriptive Bibliography". Number A16.1 in Clark's bibliography and number 7600 in BAL. This copy is in the following states and sub-states, again as described by Clark: Binding: in the style of Ticknor format A. Brown bold-ribbed T cloth with blind-stamped floral device inside ruled panels on both covers. Spine gold-stamped. Cream-colored wove endpapers. The contents are listed on pp. iii-iv and there is no preface. This is a key indicator of the first edition versus the second edition, which includes a preface. The other variants between the first and second editions are also present. These consist of sixty-nine typographical and spelling errors and punctuation changes throughout the text. For example, on page 21 line 20 "reduplicate" appears instead of "repudiate." Two of these variants (pg 31 line 20 and pg 132 line 29) are not as listed but these appear to be errors in Clark's list. Page 321 is in State x1 - line 10 has presence of work-up. Page iii is in State a2 - the "N" is beneath the "r" in "according" and the "1" of "192" is out of position. Four pages of ads were inserted between the front endpapers in most copies. This copy does not have any ads. It is unclear if they were lost or if this is one of the copies that never had ads. The text block is complete, although the stitching has loosened. The leaves are clean and unmarked except for a previous owner's name, dated 1850, on the front pastedown. The boards are in good condition, with some wear at the corners. The spine is in tatters, however, with some pieces missing. It is held to the boards with transparent tape.. First Edition. Hard Cover. Fair/No Jacket. 12mo - over 6¾" - 7¾" tall.