Search Results: a week on the concord and merrimack by thoreau

Boston and Cambridge: James Munroe and Company, 1849. First Edition. Fine. First edition, first printing of the author's first book, which was published at his own expense. 413, [1], [1, ad for Walden: "Soon to be published"] pp. Bound in publisher's original trade binding with boards ruled in blind and spine decoratively stamped in blind and lettered in gilt, pale yellow endsheets. Small ownership bookplate of former Wall Street executive and 2016 Republican candidate for Vermont Governor Bruce Lisman to front pastedown, as well as the more contemporary ownership signature of William Ingersoll Bowditch dated 1862. Bowditch was a Boston lawyer who participated in the anti-slavery movement, aided freedom seekers on the Underground Railroad as a member of the Boston Vigilance Committee, and served as a leading figure in the Womans' Suffrage Movement. A Fine copy with remarkably bright pages, sharp gilt. Light rubbing to cloth, bruising to spine ends, fore edge cut by binder a little rough. A very… Read More

Concord; Boston: n.p./Ticknor and Fields, 1862. Hardcover. Good. Single page autograph letter. Although unaddressed, it is obviously to Thoreau's first publisher, arranging to dispose of the unsold copies of his first book. In his journal he describes how he had to take back and pay for nearly unsold copies, which he stored in his attic. Ticknor and Fields report that 595 bound and unbound copies were bought from Thoreau in 1862. New title pages were prepared, dated 1862, and were issued with the first edition sheets in July of that year. Together with a copy of the book with the cancel title page, but with the announcement of the impending publication of 'Walden' at the end, even though that title had been issued in 1854. The binding shows significant wear at edges and spine tips, and the front endpapers are worn with a small marginal piece lacking at the foredge of the free endpaper and cracked inner hinge. With the three lines lacking at the bottom of page 396, uncorrected. Charles Francis… Read More

First edition of Thoreau's first book – 1000 copies published at his own expense of which only 550 were bound - less than 300 were sold or given away by the publisher and Thoreau, and in 1853 the remainder was returned to him whereupon he hauled it up to his attic and sarcastically bemoaned the dismal sales. Top edge uncut. Minor wear to spine ends, minor sporadic foxing, lettering at spine foot rubbed off(a common occurrence with the wispy spine cloth), else a Fine, crisp copy with bright gilt. Scarce in this condition, even 100 years ago when this copy sold at auction.
Ex-Jacob Chester Chamberlain, famed turn of the century collector with three lines of text dropped by the publisher penciled in his hand on page 396, along with his acquisition slip from another noted collector, Beverly Chew of the Grolier Club in New York City. Housed in an amazing contemporary custom pull off case with elaborate tooling, commissioned by Chamberlain, as was his custom for many of his most fantastic books. Sold at… Read More

Boston & Cambridge: James Munroe & Company. New York: George P. Putnam, [et al.], 1849. First edition, and one of only 1000 copies printed at Thoreau's own risk, 12mo, pp. 413, [3] including the advertisement leaf for Walden; a bit of slight chipping at the top of the spine, bottom of the spine slightly cracked (but the imprint "Munroe & Co." is preserved); otherwise, a very good, bright and sound copy, in BAL's brown cloth binding 'A' ("trade binding," no priority) with no cracking of the hinges. A better copy than most. Thoreau's first book, published at his own risk, and with Walden, the only book published in his lifetime. The book did not sell well and the publisher returned a remainder of 706 copies to him in October of 1853 which prompted Thoreau to write: "I have now a library of nearly nine hundred volumes, over seven hundred of which I wrote myself. Is it not well that the author should behold the fruits of his labor?" By April of 1862, Thoreau had disposed of 111 of these copies leaving… Read More

Boston and Cambridge: James Munroe and Company, 1849. First Edition. Very Good. First edition. (Three blank lines on p. 396 not filled-in. Trade binding; BAL 20104.) 413, [1], [1, ad for Walden: "Soon to be published"] pp. Original blindstamped brown cloth, spine lettered in gilt, pale yellow endpapers. Very Good with worn and slightly chipped spine ends, edge-rubbing that is heaviest along front joint, a few ink drops to cloth. Top third of front free endpaper excised, penciled former owner's signature to following page, light dampstaining to margins at lower fore-edge, bookplate of John S. Wood on paste down, portrait of Thoreau from early magazine affixed to page facing title page. Housed in custom green cloth with snapping chemise, gilt spine titles. Thoreau's first rare book, published at his own expense.

Boston: Ticknor and Fields, 1862.

Boston, Cambridge, New York, Philadelphia & London: James Munroe and Company [et al], 1849.. [6],[7]-413,[3]pp. Publisher's black cloth ruled in blind, lettered in gilt. Endsheets slightly tanned, spine ends chipped with 6mm loss at crown and narrow splits at crown and toe of lower outer hinge, foretips worn, upper board shows some light soiling, 1.5cm narrow chip in middle of upper outer hinge, extreme lower fore-tip of lead 21/22 folded and thus a bit over extended when bound; a good, sound copy, internally very good or better, uncommonly clean, with only a hint of occasional light foxing. First edition, first issue, of Thoreau's first book, in the trade binding (BAL's binding A). This copy does not bear the pencil corrections and additions that occur in a few copies. Thoreau paid for its publication in an edition of 1000 copies, of which 706 copies (bound and in sheets) reverted to the author after dismal sales. Of special note is the presence of the terminal advert leaf noting that WALDEN "will… Read More

Boston and Cambridge: James Munroe And Company, 1849. First Edition. First and only Printing Very good- in its original, light brown, wavy cloth covered boards blind stamped with a five-rule border on both boards. This copy has been professionally rebacked preserving the majority of the original spine strip and retaining the original end sheets. A small octavo of 7 13/16 by 4 3/4 inches with the cloth worn through at the fore edges of the boards and in sections along the upper and lower edges of the boards. The front hinge is starting and there are occasional marginal pencil marks in the text. Heavy erasures of the front and rear most end sheets have also caused two small holes in those pages. There is a minor tanning to the interior of the facing pages 112 and 113 perhaps from two small leaves having been pressed within the book. Lastly, the page announcing the imminent publication of Walden is missing a 1 1/2 inch chip from its upper fore corner. That chip has no impact on the printed… Read More

Boston and Cambridge: James Munroe and Company, 1849. First edition of the author's first book. 413, [3] pp. With terminal advertisement leaf announcing "Will Soon Be Published Walden, or Life in the Woods ...". 1 vols. 8vo. Original brown blindstamped cloth. Spine perished, boards edgeworn and detached. Textblock clean and sound. Review of the book tipped in at end on verso of advertisement leaf and facing blank (clipping partly toned). Half morocco slipcase and chemise. First edition of the author's first book. 413, [3] pp. With terminal advertisement leaf announcing "Will Soon Be Published Walden, or Life in the Woods ...". 1 vols. 8vo. Thoreau's First Book, With an Unrecorded Contemporary Review : 'Rare Merits'. A notable copy of Thoreau's first book, largely overlooked when initially published, and now a recognized classic. Emerson famously declined to review his friend's book; but the present copy makes it clear that some did commit their opinions to print: tipped in at the verso of the… Read More

Boston: Ticknor & Fields, 1862.. [6],[7]-413,[3]pp. Publisher's plum brown cloth (Borst's binding 2). Spine faded, with shallow frayed snag at crown, some sunning at edges with a faint, narrow diagonal discoloration in the upper fore-quadrant of the lower cover, very shallow discoloration at the top edge of the first three leaves, otherwise a very good copy. First edition, second issue, of Thoreau's first book. Thoreau originally paid for its publication in an edition of 1000 copies, of which 706 copies (bound and in sheets) reverted to the author after dismal sales. Eventually, in 1862, Ticknor and Fields acquired the remainder of bound and unbound copies, and 500 copies were equipped with a cancel title-leaf, constituting the second issue, as here. Of note is the continued presence of the terminal advert noting that WALDEN "will soon be published." A second, corrected edition was not called for until 1868. BORST A1.1.A2. BAL 20104.

London: George G. Harrap & Company, 1913. Uniform edition of Henry David Thoreau's writings, illustrated with 165 photogravures after nature photographs by Clifton Johnson, who observes of Thoreau: "Each plant and tree had for him a story, though he was more attentive to the wild growths than to the cultivated." This set collects the two books published in the Concord Transcendentalist's lifetime, A Week on the Concord and Merrimack Rivers (1849) and Walden (1854), as well as three volumes published after his death: Excursions (1863), The Maine Woods (1864), and Cape Cod (1865). This set was issued in New York by Crowell and in London by Harrap. The New York edition features a different decorative binding by pioneering book designer Margaret Armstrong for each title, while this London edition is uniform, featuring Armstrong's design for the American edition of Walden on all five volumes. A stunning set. Five volumes, measuring 8 x 5.25 inches: xii, 319, [1]; xiv, 423, [1]; xvi, 440; [4], xxii, 492;… Read More

Charlottesville, VA: University Press of Virginia. New. 1986. Hardcover. 0813910633 .*** FREE UPGRADE to Courier/Priority Shipping Upon Request *** – – *** IN STOCK AND IMMEDIATELY AVAILABLE FOR SHIPMENT - Flawless copy, pristine - 490 pages. -- with a bonus offer-- .

Boston: Ticknor & Fields. Good+. 1868. Hardcover. Brown cloth covers. The spine is somewhat color faded. Some wear and rubbing to the edges and corners. The front hinge is starting to crack, but holding. The text block is square and sound and the pages are clean. Blind-stamped floral wreath on the front cover and small gilt decoration on the spine. Thoreau's first book. This is the first Ticknor and Fields printing. This is the first printing of the second edition. A wonderful copy of an important American literary classic. Very scarce. ; 415 pages .

Cambridge, Mass: Houghton, Mifflin at the Riverside Press, 1901. One of 500 copies, DESIGNED BY BRUCE ROGERS. vi, 88, 2 pp. 1 vols. 12mo. Original linen spine and grey boards. Spine toned. Near fine copy of an early and beautiful Rogers design. One of 500 copies, DESIGNED BY BRUCE ROGERS. vi, 88, 2 pp. 1 vols. 12mo. BAL 20197; Warde 19

(Cambridge, MA): The Riverside Press, 1901. quarter cloth, paper-covered boards, spine and front cover gilt-stamped, slipcase. Rogers, Bruce. 12mo. quarter cloth, paper-covered boards, spine and front cover gilt-stamped, slipcase. vi, 88, (2) pages. Limited to 500 numbered copies. Spine lightly faded. Slipcase with rubbing along edges. Else near fine. Introductory note. BAL 20197. Borst A1.6; Allen 31; Warde & Haas 52. Borst and Warde & Haas note typography by Bruce Rogers. Scarce with the slipcase. The typography is by the notable American book designer Bruce Rogers (1870-1957), who "was appreciated in his lifetime. In addition to several honorary degrees, in 1948 he was awarded a gold medal from the American Academy of Arts and Letters for distinction in the graphic arts. Over decades of accomplishment in which he designed approximately 500 books... Rogers literally defined the profession of book designing in the United States" (ANB).

(Cambridge, MA): The Riverside Press, 1901. quarter cloth, paper-covered boards, spine and front cover gilt-stamped. Rogers, Bruce. 12mo. quarter cloth, paper-covered boards, spine and front cover gilt-stamped. vi, 88, (2) pages. Limited to 500 numbered copies. Lacking the slipcase. Spine lightly age darkened. Else near fine. Introductory note. BAL 20197. Borst A1.6; Allen 31; Warde & Haas 52. Borst and Warde & Haas note typography by Bruce Rogers. The typography is by the notable American book designer Bruce Rogers (1870-1957), who "was appreciated in his lifetime. In addition to several honorary degrees, in 1948 he was awarded a gold medal from the American Academy of Arts and Letters for distinction in the graphic arts. Over decades of accomplishment in which he designed approximately 500 books... Rogers literally defined the profession of book designing in the United States" (ANB).

[Cambridge, Mass.]: Riverside Press for Houghton MIfflin and Co, 1901. Limited Edition. Small Octavo. Limited to 500 copies of which this is #127. vi, 88 pages, designed by Bruce Rogers. This essay was drawn from Thoreau's first book, A Week on the Concord and Merrimack Rivers. Bound in 1/4 beige linen over black paper covered boards lettered in gilt, spine lettering gilt, damp stain near foot of rear board. A very nice copy internally fresh. [Work of Bruce Rogers, #66;. BAL 20197.].

Cambridge, MA: The Riverside Press, Houghton, Mifflin & Co., 1901. [Philosophy] LIMITED EDITION, PRIVATE PRESS. Duodecimo (20 x 12cm), pp.[4] vi; 88 [6]. Number 448 of 500 copies thus, letterpress printed on fine hand-made paper. Publisher's quarter cream cloth, with gilt titles to spine and upper, and dark grey paper over boards. All edges untrimmed. A crisp, clean copy internally, showing moderate toning and some wear to spine. Very good. An important essay from Thoreau's first book, concerning a journey made in 1839.

Boston, 1868. 2nd Edition 1st Printing. Hardcover. Fair. 12mo 7.25"x5. Book New and revised edition. (Second Edition, First Printing). 415pp. 12mo 7.25"x5". Original dark cloth w/embossed designs. Fst. published in 1849, describing a two-week river trip taken in 1839 in a boat he built with his brother John. Book was intended as a tribute to his brother John. Contains Thoreau's thoughts on truth, poetry, silence, traveling, friendship, etc. Fair to Good condition. Brown endpapers cracked some at the hinges. Pages are not foxed. Spine foxed along one edge and ends w/gold lettering complete. Cover has some scuffing, worn tips. Cover is overall fair; To see picture, click to next;

Norwalk, Connecticut: Easton Press. 1972. First Edition; First Printing. Hardcover. Fine. Accented in 22kt gold, printed on archival paper with gilded edges, smyth sewing & concealed muslin joints. Bound In full leather with hubbed spines. A Limited Edition. ; First Easton Press Edition.; 4to 11" - 13" tall .