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

8vo. Title–page printed in red and black. Full crushed levant, upper cover with a large scarlet morocco inlay of the letter “A”, elaborately surrounded with gilt floral tools, spine in 6 compartments with 5 raised bands, gilt–lettering in two compartments, top edge gilt, GILT STAMP–SIGNED BY RIVIERE & SON (some separation along joints, lower cover slightly bowed near top corner, minimal dampstaining).

FIRST EDITION, without ads which Clark notes as having “no bibliographical significance” in regard to edition. Hawthorne’s work was an immediate success, selling 2,500 copies in its first week of publication, giving Hawthorne his first literary success. BAL 7600; Clark A16.1; Grolier American 59.

[With:] HAWTHORNE. The Blithedale Romance. Boston: Ticknor, Reed and Fields, 1852. 8vo. (Few leaves starting with some marginal wear). Original blindstamped brown cloth, gilt–lettered spine, pale yellow endpapers (spine rolled, some wear at ends, pale spotting to upper cover). FIRST EDITION, BAL binding A with no publisher’s catalogue. BAL 7611.