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THE SCARLET LETTER A ROMANCE
by Hawthorne, Nathaniel
- Used
- Hardcover
- Condition
- See description
- Seller
-
New Haven, Connecticut, United States
Payment Methods Accepted
About This Item
Boston: Ticknor, Reed and Fields, 1850.. 4,vi,322pp. Original brown publisher's cloth, decorated in blind, lettered in gilt. Title printed in black and red. Publisher's catalogue dated March 1 1850. Spine ends a bit frayed, a few faint spots to upper boards, lower foretips shelfworn, ownership inscription on front free endsheet ("Susan T. Walker, Washington City, DC, May 3rd 1851(?)"), some foxing early and late, otherwise a very good copy. Second edition, with the additional "Preface to the Second Edition" dated 30 March 1850, and some textual corrections. This is BAL's printing 1 of this edition, with the Metcalf and Company imprint on the verso of the title. It is Clark's sole printing of the second edition, and like the first printing of the first edition, consisted of 2500 copies. Accompanied by a printed customs receipt for the Port of Salem, executed in ink on May 23 1848, pertaining to duty "Twenty eight hundred & fifty Monkey Skins," imported from Africa, signed by the customs collector and naval officer, and countersigned by Hawthorne. BAL 7601. CLARK A16.2. GROLIER AMERICAN HUNDRED 59.
Synopsis
The Scarlet Letter: A Romance (1850) is considered the American author Nathaniel Hawthorne's 'masterwork.' A work of historical fiction set in the Massachusetts Bay Colony during the Puritan settlement of 1642-1949 itells the story of Hester Prynne, who after having a child as a result of an extra-marital affair attempts to live a life of repentance and dignity although she is marked by having to wear a Scarlett A on her person. Throughout the novel, Hawthorne explores themes of legalism, sin, and guilt. The Scarlett Letter was one of the first mass-produced novels in the United States, prior printing of books generally done by hand. The 2,500 copies first printed sold out in days, and the mass-production of books opened up conversation about books and authors to a wider-audience on a national level. The first edition of The Scarlet Letter sold out in ten days and “made Hawthorne’s fame, changed his fortune and gave to our literature its first symbolic novel a year before the appearance of Melville’s Moby-Dick” (Bradley). Although an instant best-seller, the books sales over fourteen years only brought the author $1500.
Read More: Identifying first editions of THE SCARLET LETTER A ROMANCE
Reviews
On Oct 4 2010, Erhanilhan said:
An absolute criticism of Puritan society. Hawthorne portrays the hypocritic sides of the society by pointing its discrepancies and ill-interpreted biblical sides deeds. He also shows that the society was not working in the name of god as stated; instead worked for a group of people (especially powerful) that keep the lines in hand.
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Details
- Bookseller
- William Reese Company - Literature ABAA-ILAB
(US)
- Bookseller's Inventory #
- WRCLIT88815
- Title
- THE SCARLET LETTER A ROMANCE
- Author
- Hawthorne, Nathaniel
- Book Condition
- Used
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Binding
- Hardcover
- Publisher
- Ticknor, Reed and Fields
- Place of Publication
- Boston
- Date Published
- 1850.
Terms of Sale
William Reese Company - Literature ABAA-ILAB
All material is shipped subject to approval, but notification of return must be made within ten days and returns made in a prompt and conscientious fashion.
As our inventory is housed in two locations, queries about availability should be made by e-mail rather than telephone.
We do not drop-ship to third parties.
About the Seller
William Reese Company - Literature ABAA-ILAB
Biblio member since 2006
New Haven, Connecticut
About William Reese Company - Literature ABAA-ILAB
Since 1975, William Reese Company has served a large international clientele of collectors and private and public institutions in the acquisition of rare books and manuscripts and in collection development.
With a catalogued inventory of over thirty thousand items, and a general inventory of over sixty-five thousand items, we are among the leading specialists in the fields of Americana and world travel, and maintain a large and eclectic inventory of literary first editions and antiquarian books of the 18th through 20th centuries.
We issue frequent, and substantial, catalogues in our fields of specialization.
With a catalogued inventory of over thirty thousand items, and a general inventory of over sixty-five thousand items, we are among the leading specialists in the fields of Americana and world travel, and maintain a large and eclectic inventory of literary first editions and antiquarian books of the 18th through 20th centuries.
We issue frequent, and substantial, catalogues in our fields of specialization.
Glossary
Some terminology that may be used in this description includes:
- Verso
- The page bound on the left side of a book, opposite to the recto page.
- Publisher's cloth
- A hardcover book comprised of cloth over hard pasteboard boards. ...
- BAL
- Bibliography of American Literature (commonly abbreviated as BAL in descriptions) is the quintessential reference work for any...
- 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....
- First Edition
- In book collecting, the first edition is the earliest published form of a book. A book may have more than one first edition in...
- Gilt
- The decorative application of gold or gold coloring to a portion of a book on the spine, edges of the text block, or an inlay in...
This Book’s Categories
- Fiction & Literature Fiction by Region American Fiction
- Fiction & Literature Classic Literature
- Fiction & Literature Historical Fiction
- Fiction & Literature Literary Studies Literary Criticism
- Fiction & Literature Modern Fiction
- Fiction & Literature Mystery & Thrillers Mystery
- Children & Juvenile Juvenile & Young Adult Juvenile Fiction & Literature
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