Nathaniel Hawthorne, 1850

HAWTHORNE, Nathaniel (1804-1864). The Scarlet Letter. Boston: Ticknor, Reed, and Fields, 1850.

Bright, first edition of Hawthorne's masterwork. In spite of its controversial subject matter, The Scarlet Letter was an immediate success, selling 2,500 copies within its first week of publication and lifting Hawthorne out of literary obscurity. Advertisements dated March 1, 1850. BAL 7600; Clark A16.1; Grolier American 59, Grolier English 90.

Octavo. 4 pp. publisher's catalogue dated 1 March 1850 inserted at front, title printed in red and black (front hinge very tender). Original brown cloth stamped in gilt (a little fraying at head of spine and scuffing to covers, corners starting to show). Custom chemise and morocco pull-off box. Provenance: Christie's New York, 14 December 1984, lot 147.