A WEEK ON THE CONCORD AND MERRIMACK RIVERS.

Thoreau, Henry D.:

Published by Boston, Cambridge, New York, Philadelphia & London: James Munroe and Company [et al.], 1849.

About this Item

First edition, first issue, of Thoreau's first book, in the trade binding (BAL's binding A). The book recounts the story of a river journey taken by Thoreau and his late brother John in 1839, mostly as a launching-off point for philosophical musings on a wide variety of topics. This copy without the the pencil corrections and additions that occur in a few copies. Thoreau paid for its publication in an edition of 1000 copies, of which 706 copies (both bound and in sheets) reverted to the author after dismal sales. Of special note is the presence of the terminal advert leaf noting that Walden "will soon be published." The poor sales of this title were, in part, cause for its delay until 1854. Eventually, in 1862, Ticknor and Fields acquired the remainder of bound and unbound copies, and 500 copies were equipped with a cancel title-leaf, constituting the second issue. A second, corrected edition was not called for until 1868. BORST A1.1.A1. BAL 20104. Publisher's black cloth ruled in blind, lettered in gilt. Endsheets slightly tanned, extreme lower fore-tip of leaf 21/22 folded and thus a bit over extended when bound, shallow over extension of a short portion of the top margin of pp. 215/216; expert restoration at the extreme crown and toe of the spine (with loss of the majority of the publisher's imprint at the extreme toe), very good or somewhat better copy, internally uncommonly clean, with only a hint of occasional light foxing.

Seller Inventory # 62852

Bibliographic Details

• Title: A WEEK ON THE CONCORD AND MERRIMACK RIVERS.
• Publisher: Boston, Cambridge, New York, Philadelphia & London: James Munroe and Company [et al.], 1849.
• Edition: 1st Edition