Tanglewood Tales, for Girls and Boys;: Being a Second Wonder Book. With Illustrations.

Boston: Ticknor, Reed, and Fields,, 1853. First US edition, first issue, of Hawthorne's sequel to The Wonder Book (Boston, 1852), retelling the Greek myths for children. This copy has a loosely inserted envelope addressed to the publisher, penned and initialled by Hawthorne. This edition, preceded only by the UK edition of the same year, has the following issue points: the "Stereotyped at the Boston Stereotype Foundry" mention to the copyright page; the omission of price in the list of Hawthorne's works (later issues having the price of 88 cents); and the publisher's ads dated "August, 1853", in the second state, listing the present title as "just out" (p. 2). Small octavo. Original blue cloth, spine lettered and decorated in gilt, decorationsin blind to boards, pale yellow coated endpapers. Housed in custom blue cloth chemise and matching quarter morocco slipcase, spine lettered in gilt (a hint of wear). Additional engraved title, 6 engraved plates, 8 pp. of publisher's advertisements at front. Gilt morocco bookplate of Katharine de Berkeley Parsons (1897-1993); embossed booksellers stamp of Gray Sprague & Co. to first leaf of ads. Minute wear to corners, faint soiling, the binding otherwise sound and bright, occasional spotting to contents, else internally fresh; a very good, attractive copy indeed.