The Scarlet Letter

by Hawthorne, Nathaniel

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.

First Edition Identification

First edition published by Ticknor, Reeds and Fields, in Boston 1850. Main first edition marker is "reduplicate" instead of "repudiate" on page 21 Four page publisher's adverts at front dated March 1, 1850 and preceding the free end paper. The brown T-cloth favored by Ticknor & Fields is famous for becoming brittle with age, and cracking or fraying at the spine tips. First editions can run upwards of $20,000.

The second edition adds a preface and has a Metcalf imprint on verso of title-page. The third printing has the same preface but has a Hobart & Robbins imprint on verso of title-page.

Other Collectible or Notable Editions

From Abaa.org Checklist of Hawthorne's first and major editions: 

A note of caution is warranted for this book: Like so many landmark works of literature, this book has been a favorite target of forgers for nearly a century and copies of the second edition are found posing as first editions (with the preface cleverly excised), and copies of first edition sheets are often found recased in the identical bindings that were used on the second, third and later printings.  Prices vary widely with condition, and Hawthorne collectors must compete with "highspot collectors" but most copies in very good unrepaired condition fetch $5,000 or more, and a fine copy can bring more than double that much. A nice copy of the second edition should be under $1,000. -

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The Scarlet Letter

The Scarlet Letter

by Hawthorne, Nathaniel

Condition
Used
Edition
First edition
Published
1850
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CHESTER, Connecticut, USA
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Boston: Ticknor, Reed and Fields, 1850. First edition. Original brown cloth, stamped in gilt and blind. Spine dull, frayed at the ends, slight wear to corners, hinges trifle loose; internally mostly fresh and clean. March 1850 catalogue. BAL 7600.
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$2,500.00
The Scarlet Letter
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The Scarlet Letter

by Hawthorne, Nathaniel

Condition
Used - Fair Condition
Edition
First Edition
Published
1850
Binding
Hardcover
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1
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Roslindale, Massachusetts, USA
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Boston: Ticknor, Reed, and Fields, 1850. First Edition. Hardcover. Fair Condition. Original brown cloth, worn, hinges cracked, wear and loss to cloth at spine ends and edges, slight dampstaining to covers. A bit shaken, scattered mostly minor foxing and browning, old signature to title. A bit rough, but a complete and unsophisticated copy of the first edition with… Read more about this item
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$2,100.00
The Scarlet Letter
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The Scarlet Letter

by HAWTHORNE, Nathaniel

Condition
Used
Edition
Second Edition
Published
1850
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Winchester, Virginia, USA
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Boston: Ticknor, Reed, and Fields, 1850. Second Edition. Octavo (19cm). Publisher's blindstamped brown cloth, gilt title on spine; yellow endpapers; [4],[i-ii], [v]-vi,322pp; 4pp publisher's catalog at front, dated October 1, 1849. Title page printed in two colors. Ownership inscription of Margaret R. Brown to first leaf of text. Straight but rubbed, recased, joints cracking with minor repairs (external), some… Read more about this item
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The Scarlet Letter; A Romance (Fine Binding)
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The Scarlet Letter; A Romance (Fine Binding)

by Hawthorne, Nathaniel

Condition
Used - Near Fine
Jacket Condition
No Jacket
Edition
Later British Edition
Binding
Hardcover
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Bloomington, Indiana, USA
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London, N.D. (1859): Charles H. Clarke No date, (1859). Illustrations throughout by Miss M.E. Dear. An uncommon early British edition of Hawthorne's classic American novel, Note in ink front end page states "rebound July 28, 1898", a fine late 19th c. binding of half red crushed morocco over marbled boards, five raised bands with polshed red labels, gilt lettering, rules,… Read more about this item
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$1,000.00
The Scarlet Letter

The Scarlet Letter

by Hawthorne, Nathaniel

Condition
Used - Acceptable
Published
1/1/1910
Binding
HARDCOVER
ISBN 10
1566190959
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Oconto, Wisconsin, USA
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Donohue, Henneberry & co. HARDCOVER. 1/1/1910. 1566190959 :Small maroon hardcover, undated, tissue protected picture of Nathaniel Hawthorne on first page, blue ribbon bookmark, pages age tanned and unmarked, spine chipped and separating . Used - Acceptable.
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$6.99
The Scarlet Letter
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The Scarlet Letter

by Hawthorne, Nathaniel

Condition
Used - Near Fine
Edition
First Edition
Published
1850
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Portland, Oregon, USA
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Boston: Ticknor, Reed and Fields, 1850. First Edition. Near Fine. First edition, only printing with uncorrected errors: "reduplicate," "characterss" and "known of it." Contrary to popular belief, there are no points of issue for this title, but simple variations including two settings of gathering 21 which resulted in minute variations of no relevance in terms of "issue" in… Read more about this item
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$7,800.00
The Scarlet Letter
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The Scarlet Letter

by Hawthorne, Nathaniel

Condition
Used - Good
Jacket Condition
No Jacket
Edition
1st Edition
Published
1850
Binding
Hardcover
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1
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Beverly Hills, California, USA
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Ticknor, Reed and Fields, 1850. 1st Edition. Hardcover. Good/No Jacket. First edition with all first issue points, including catalogue dated March 1, 1850. Octavo, publisher's brown cloth decoratively stamped in blind and letter in gilt at the spine (cloth along rear joint cracked nearly through exposing webbing, rear hinge cracking near bottom and tender, additional rubbing, minor soiling,previous… Read more about this item
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$4,500.00
The Scarlet Letter

The Scarlet Letter

by Hawthorne, Nathaniel

Condition
Used
Edition
First edition
Published
1850
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1
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CHESTER, Connecticut, USA
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Boston: Ticknor, Reed and Fields, 1850. First edition. Original brown cloth, stamped in gilt and blind. Small area of wear at the base of the spine, corners slightly rubbed, otherwise a fine copy. The gilt is bright, hinges sound, text block clean and fresh. March 1850 catalogue at front, slightly loose. Early ownership signature (Anna B. Greene, Brookfield, May… Read more about this item
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$7,500.00
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The Scarlet Letter (Signet Classics)

by Hawthorne, Nathaniel

Condition
New
ISBN 10
0451531353
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Bensalem, Pennsylvania, USA
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$11.74

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New. .
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THE SCARLET LETTER: A Romance Literally Reprinted from the First Edition, with Fifteen Original Colored Illustrations by A. Robaudi and C. Graham
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THE SCARLET LETTER: A Romance Literally Reprinted from the First Edition, with Fifteen Original Colored Illustrations by A. Robaudi and C. Graham

by Hawthorne, Nathaniel

Condition
Used
Published
1904
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1
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Middletown, Maryland, USA
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$450.00

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New York: Privately Printed, 1904. First edition thus. In the original French-style parchment paperwraps. One of only 125 copies printed on Japanese imperial paper (one additional copy was printed on vellum). Illustrated with 30 plates, including frontispiece, being 15 illustrations each presented in a colored and uncolored version. One section starting resulting in a near split at spine which… Read more about this item
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$450.00
The Scarlet Letter
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The Scarlet Letter

by Hawthorne, Nathaniel

Condition
Used - G, covers have edge wear and corners bumped. Emblem still in good condition. Front hinge cracked. Pages have slight yellowing at
Published
1908
Binding
Hardcover
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Columbia, Pennsylvania, USA
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$140.00

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New York: The Grolier club, 1908. Hardcover. G, covers have edge wear and corners bumped. Emblem still in good condition. Front hinge cracked. Pages have slight yellowing at edges. Pages uncut edge. Plates are clean and bright.. Boughton, George Henry. Brown spine with gilt lettering, scarlet "A" and gilt tooled emblen on front cover. 5 preliminary leaves, 325,… Read more about this item
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$140.00
The Scarlet Letter
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The Scarlet Letter

by Hawthorne, Nathaniel

Condition
Used - Very good
Edition
First
Published
1850
Binding
Hardcover
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Beverly Hills, California, USA
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Boston: Ticknor, Reed and Fields, 1850. First. hardcover. Very good. A very good first edition in original cloth. 1st issue with "reduplicate" on page 21. Housed in a custom made collector's slipcase.
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$9,500.00
The Scarlet Letter: A Romance
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The Scarlet Letter: A Romance

by Hawthorne, Nathaniel. Illustrated By Hugh Thomson

Condition
Used - Very Good
Edition
First Illustrated Edition
Published
1920
Binding
Hardcover
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1
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East Granby, Connecticut, USA
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London: Methuen & Company, 1920. Stated first illustrated edition, 1920, with 31 beautiful tipped on color plates by Thomson with captioned tissues. Large book, more than 10.5 inches tallk in blue cloth lettered and extensively decorated in gilt, top edge gilt, other edges untrimmed, black and white illustrations thorughout the text in addition to the color plates. Light shelf rubbing… Read more about this item
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$77.99
The Scarlet Letter.

The Scarlet Letter.

by Hawthorne, Nathaniel

Condition
Used
Published
1920
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Palm Beach, Florida, USA
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London: Methuen & Co. Ltd, 1920.
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THE SCARLET LETTER. A Romance
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THE SCARLET LETTER. A Romance

by Hawthorne Nathaniel

Condition
Used
Published
1850
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1
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Newburyport, Massachusetts, USA
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Boston: Ticknor, Reed and Fields, 1850. First Edition, First Issue, with ads dated March 1. 1850, no preface and all first edition points noted by Clark, including 'reduplicate for 'repudiate' on page 21. Title-page printed in red and black. 8vo, a rare survival in the publisher’s original Ticknor Style A brown textured cloth, the covers decorated… Read more about this item
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$20,350.00
THE SCARLET LETTER
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THE SCARLET LETTER

by Hawthorne, Nathaniel

Condition
Used - Very good.
Published
1892
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Silver Spring, Maryland, USA
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New York: John B. Alden, 1892. Very good.. Gilded Age edition in an elaborately constructed vernacular dust jacket, with an original watercolor painted onto the front panel, and incorporating silk ribbons. Though somewhat out of favor with critics after the Civil War, Hawthorne's star rose again in the last quarter of the 19th century in part due to… Read more about this item
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$1,500.00
The Scarlet Letter: A Romance
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The Scarlet Letter: A Romance

by Hawthorne, Nathaniel

Condition
Used - Good to Very Good
Published
1852
Binding
Hardcover
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1
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Houlton, Maine, USA
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$475.00

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London: G. Routledge & Co., 1852 iv, 252pp, bound in 3/4 leather and marbled paper, leather spine label intact with small edge chips. Covers in Good Condition, showing edge/corner wear, bumped corners, rubbed paper, front hinge cracked. Interior is in Very Good Condition, with the bookplate for "Edward Roberts, 36 Blomfield Road, Maida Hill". Light foxing on… Read more about this item
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$475.00
The Scarlet Letter
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The Scarlet Letter

by Hawthorne, Nathaniel

Condition
Used - Fine
Edition
First Series (A) 1935.
Published
1935
Binding
Hardcover
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1
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Newburyport, Massachusetts, USA
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$75.00

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New York: Heritage Press, 1935 Presumed Reprint. Hard cover, 8vo, in slipcase, red cloth, blind stamped with vignette initial "A "design top board, with additional blind stamp to spine, with titles blocked in gold. The frontispiece has a color illustration by the Chicago-trained graphic artist William Addison Dwiggins, (1880-1956) signed in pencil by the artist. After a stint at… Read more about this item
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$75.00
A Medicine for Melancholy
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A Medicine for Melancholy

by Bradbury, Ray

Condition
Used - Very Good
Jacket Condition
Very Good
Edition
1st Edition
Published
1959
Binding
Hardcover
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1
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Beverly Hills, California, USA
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$950.00

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Doubleday, 1959. 1st Edition. Hardcover. Very Good/Very Good. A very good first edition with a terrific inscription at time of publication. Very good dust jacket with small stains on back panel, original price of $3.75 still present on front flap.
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$950.00
The Scarlet Letter

The Scarlet Letter

by Hawthorne, Nathaniel

Condition
Used - Very Good
Published
1905
Binding
Hardcover
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1
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Didcot, Oxfordshire, GBR
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$9.04

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London: Henry Frowde, 1905. Hardcover, World Classics edition, bound in soft red leather with gilt page block head. Cover edges are worn, spine ends are chipped and spine is tanned. Previous owner's name penned to FEP, page block lightly marked. Internally clean and clear throughout. AD. Hardcover. Very Good. Used.
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$9.04