Item #106137 Our Old Home. Nathaniel Hawthorne.

Our Old Home.

1863. Boston: Ticknor and Fields, 1863.

8vo, [i-ix] x-xi [xii] [9] 10-398 [399: ad] pp. Original blind-stamped brown cloth, chocolate coated endpapers, a remarkably good copy. Early ink signature at front of Helen S. Wright.

§ First American edition, first issue, with the “myterious” typo and the single page of ads. A later title from Hawthorne but very scarce in such fine condition. A controversial book which aired opinions about his fellow countrymen which were not well received by the general public. His dedication of the book to his friend former President Pierce also drew criticism. His publisher's had advised him to omit the dedication but Hawthorne held firm: "I find that it would be a piece of poltroonery in me to withdraw either the dedication or the dedicatory letter... if he is so exceedingly unpopular that his name is enough to sink the volume, there is so much more the need that an old friend should stand by him." BAL 7627. A British edition (BAL 7626) was issued two months earlier. Item #106137

Price: $500.00

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