Thoreau, Henry David. Autograph Letter and A Week on the Concord and Merrimack Rivers. n.p./Ticknor and Fields, Concord; Boston, 1862.

Price: US$28750.00 + shipping

Condition: Good

Description: Single page autograph letter. Although unaddressed, it is obviously to Thoreau's first publisher, arranging to dispose of the unsold copies of his first book. In his journal he describes how he had to take back and pay for nearly unsold copies, which he stored in his attic. Ticknor and Fields report that 595 bound and unbound copies were bought from Thoreau in 1862. New title pages were prepared, dated 1862, and were issued with the first edition sheets in July of that year. Together with a copy of the book with the cancel title page, but with the announcement of the impending publication of 'Walden' at the end, even though that title had been issued in 1854. The binding shows significant wear at edges and spine tips, and the front endpapers are worn with a small marginal piece lacking at the foredge of the free endpaper and cracked inner hinge. With the three lines lacking at the bottom of page 396, uncorrected. Charles Francis Saunders' copy, with his signature on the title page. Accompanied by a typescript in which Saunders describes the purchase of the book and the placing of the ALS into it. With a newpaper article about the book laid in as well as anote in Saunder's hand, "My nephew Ellsmore is to have this valuable Thoreau book." The letter and typescript are now housed in a protective portfolio, cloth spine paste paper boards and printed title labels. Whiile the book is in only good condition, the letter is near fine, with only faint fold marks. BAL 20104 under 1862 Issue. .

Seller: Thorn Books, ABAA, Tucson, AZ, U.S.A.