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First edition. Second or Third printing, with last letters on first two lines of page 149 not battered. Binding variation B. BAL does not distinguish between these two early printings. Has March 1851 ads. Copyright 1851, Nathaniel Hawthorne. Hardcover, 16mo. In the original vertically-striped brown blind-stamped cloth. Front and back boards triple-ruled in blind, with corner fleurons, and center floral vignette. Spine with banding, separating titles and publisher, which are blocked in gilt. Second compartment "THE HOUSE/OF THE/SEVEN GABLES/HAWTHORNE, sixth compartment "TICKNOR & CO." Cream yellow endpapers. Previous owner's name inscribed to endpaper. Publisher's catalogue at front titled "New Books and New Editions" in 4 page paginated advertisement. Dated March, 1851. Stereotyped by Hobart A Robbins, Boston. **COLLATION: [i-ii],[iii]-vi Preface, [7-8], [9]-344, [2] pp. **CONDITION: Very Good. Spine cocked, with exterior soiling and some rubbing to boards, spine and tips. The top inch of front joint has small split. Inside, one area of soiling to first page of Intro. Otherwise, no foxing apparent, and text block edges clean. An inscription by previous owner to the endpaper, reads "McKean, Philadelphia. June 1851." Glue bleeding or other similar stain to both endpapers. Circa WWI pencil notes to rear endpaper with a list for clothes shopping on Broadway. Now in mylar. **CONTENTS: Set in 19th century New England, this gothic romance follows the Pyncheon family as they explore a cursed and ominous family history. Set in a makeshift shop in the family homestead, young Pheobe returns to help run the shop. She meets Clifford, a former convict, depressed about his lost youth. A plot emerges in which family members fight over a lost deed to land in Maine. Phoebe meets Holgrave, an eccentric man who is planning to write a book about the history of her family, with whom she forms a delicate romance. Sometimes the past repeats itself in ways we do not expect. In Hawthorne's world, people are born naturally evil and Puritan ideas are often subverted. Published six months after the release of Hawthorne's most popular work, "The Scarlet Letter", this book was largely overshadowed and undersold in comparison. However, the rich themes of life, death, isolation, freedom, and legacy on display still captivate readers today. H.P. Lovecraft cited this book as "New England's greatest contribution to weird literature" in his essay "Supernatural Horror in Literature". **AUTHOR Nathaniel Hawthorne (1804 - 1864) was one of the most prolific American writers of the 19th century, focusing stories of early New England, and on themes of Romanticism. Born in Salem, Mass. and graduated from Bowdoin College, Hawthorne was aware of his ancestor's involvement in the Salem Witch Trials. He drew upon that knowledge specifically in this book, in which a cursed history is passed through generations. REFS: BAL 7604, Winship pg.218, Wright 1135. (CJ)
Ref: HALLO 9238
$750.00