Hawthorne, Nathaniel | The first of Hawthorne's books to bear his name

The Passion of American Collectors: Property of Barbara and Ira Lipman

Hawthorne, Nathaniel

Twice-Told Tales; Boston: American Stationers Co., 1837

8vo (120 x mm) Publisher’s advertisement at beginning and end; one or two stray spots to advertisements and some light spotting throughout. Original black cloth, overall quatrefoil ornaments in blind, spine gilt lettered; some wear to edges. Slipcase.

First edition of Hawthorne's second book, and the first to bear his name on the title-page. One of 1,000 copies. The present tales had previously been published in periodicals (hence the name), and were collected here for the first time. Of Twice-Told Tales, Edgar Allan Poe once noted: "They belong to the highest region of Art - an Art subservient to genius of a very lofty order, the style is purity itself. Force abounds."

REFERENCE

BAL 7581, Clark A2.1; Grolier 44