THE SCARLET LETTER
by Nathaniel Hawthorne
- Used
- Fine
- Hardcover
- first
- Condition
- Fine/Issued Without Jacket
- Seller
-
Canandaigua, New York, United States
Payment Methods Accepted
About This Item
Franklin Cente, PA: The Franklin Library, 1976. First Printing, First Edition Thus. . Full-Leather. Fine/Issued Without Jacket. From The Franklin Library's 100 Greatest Masterpieces of American Literature collection, Hawthorne's classic story of a woman who refused to kowtow to the demands of her Puritan community to divulge the name of the father of her illegitimate child. Bound in brown full-leather with gold decorated lettering and decorations on the covers and spine, and with four raised bands on the spine. Brown moire silk pastedowns and endpapers with matching silk ribbon bookmark. All edges gilded on 284-page archival-quality text which appears unopened and unread. Some slight scuffing of the leather on the top and bottom edges of the boards, o/w clean and unmarked, very tight and square. A very collectable copy.
Synopsis
The Scarlet Letter: A Romance (1850) is considered the American author Nathaniel Hawthorne's 'masterwork.' A work of historical fiction set in the Massachusetts Bay Colony during the Puritan settlement of 1642-1949 itells the story of Hester Prynne, who after having a child as a result of an extra-marital affair attempts to live a life of repentance and dignity although she is marked by having to wear a Scarlett A on her person. Throughout the novel, Hawthorne explores themes of legalism, sin, and guilt. The Scarlett Letter was one of the first mass-produced novels in the United States, prior printing of books generally done by hand. The 2,500 copies first printed sold out in days, and the mass-production of books opened up conversation about books and authors to a wider-audience on a national level. The first edition of The Scarlet Letter sold out in ten days and “made Hawthorne’s fame, changed his fortune and gave to our literature its first symbolic novel a year before the appearance of Melville’s Moby-Dick” (Bradley). Although an instant best-seller, the books sales over fourteen years only brought the author $1500.
Reviews
On Oct 4 2010, Erhanilhan said:
An absolute criticism of Puritan society. Hawthorne portrays the hypocritic sides of the society by pointing its discrepancies and ill-interpreted biblical sides deeds. He also shows that the society was not working in the name of god as stated; instead worked for a group of people (especially powerful) that keep the lines in hand.
(Log in or Create an Account first!)
Details
- Bookseller
- H.W. Gumaer, Bookseller
(US)
- Bookseller's Inventory #
- 005221
- Title
- THE SCARLET LETTER
- Author
- Nathaniel Hawthorne
- Format/Binding
- Full-Leather
- Book Condition
- Used - Fine
- Jacket Condition
- Issued Without Jacket
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Edition
- First Printing, First Edition Thus.
- Binding
- Hardcover
- Publisher
- The Franklin Library
- Place of Publication
- Franklin Cente, PA
- Date Published
- 1976
- Keywords
- MODERN NOVEL, FIRST EDITION, MASSACHUSETTS, PURITANS, ADULTERY, CLASSIC, FRANKLIN LIBRARY,
- Bookseller catalogs
- Modern Novel; Fine Literature; Franklin Library;
Terms of Sale
H.W. Gumaer, Bookseller
All books subject to prior sale. All books returnable within two weeks for any reason. Please return by USPS (media mail rate) and note the reason for return. All sales subject to applicable taxes.
About the Seller
H.W. Gumaer, Bookseller
Biblio member since 2005
Canandaigua, New York
About H.W. Gumaer, Bookseller
H.W. Gumaer, Bookseller, has been serving customers on the internet since 2003. We specialize in modern American and English fiction and in mystery and detective thrillers, as well as art and art history. We also have a growing selection of mid-to-late 19th century history and literature. Nearly all our modern and contemporary books are first editions or otherwise collectable.
Glossary
Some terminology that may be used in this description includes:
- Raised Band(s)
- Raised bands refer to the ridges that protrude slightly from the spine on leather bound books. The bands are created in the...
- Unopened
- A state in which all or some of the pages of a book have not been separated from the adjacent pages, caused by a traditional...
- First Edition
- In book collecting, the first edition is the earliest published form of a book. A book may have more than one first edition in...
- Tight
- Used to mean that the binding of a book has not been overly loosened by frequent use.
- Jacket
- Sometimes used as another term for dust jacket, a protective and often decorative wrapper, usually made of paper which wraps...
- Edges
- The collective of the top, fore and bottom edges of the text block of the book, being that part of the edges of the pages of a...
- Spine
- The outer portion of a book which covers the actual binding. The spine usually faces outward when a book is placed on a shelf....
- O/W
- An abbreviation for otherwise
Frequently asked questions
This Book’s Categories
- Fiction & Literature Fiction by Region American Fiction
- Fiction & Literature Classic Literature
- Fiction & Literature Historical Fiction
- Fiction & Literature Literary Studies Literary Criticism
- Fiction & Literature Modern Fiction
- Fiction & Literature Mystery & Thrillers Mystery
- Children & Juvenile Juvenile & Young Adult Juvenile Fiction & Literature
- Presses & Publishers Franklin Library
Collecting the Harlem Renaissance
One of the most influential - and certainly most iconic - cultural revolutions in American history, the Harlem Renaissance offers a compelling repertoire for both seasoned and novice book collectors. We’ve put together a beautiful gallery of high points to help start your collection here.
Collecting Vintage Valentine’s Day Cards
Exchanging Valentines can be an awkward process, especially when you consider “Vinegar Valentines” and other snarky sentiments - whatever your tastes, enjoy the sweet and sour cards alike in this gallery!
