Walden; or, Life in the Woods.

Boston: Ticknor and Fields, 1854. Large 12mo (7.75” x 5”), original vertically ribbed brown cloth, title and publisher in gilt at spine, covers and spine blind-stamped. [1]-357 pp., map following p. 306; 8 pp. of ads bound between terminal endpaper and rear paste-down. Appealing early ticket of “T. H. Pease, Bookseller, New Haven, Conn.” affixed to upper right corner of front paste-down (likely the original seller of this volume); early presentation inscription on front endpaper reading “Presented to Miss Martha A Lewis as a token of respect by Thomas J Lewis.”.

First edition. A remarkably presentable copy of one of the towering works of nineteenth century American literature.

With ads dated June 1854. BAL records copies with ads dated April, May, June, September, and October of 1854, as well as September of 1855, with no known bibliographical significance. 2000 copies were printed on July 12, 1854, and the book was published on the 9th of August.

REFERENCES: BAL 20106; Grolier, American 63; Borst A2.1.a; Allen, pp. 8-10.

CONDITION: Although lacking the front free endpaper, this is otherwise an unusually well-preserved, entirely unsophisticated copy, with shelf appeal far surpassing that of most copies; the head and foot of the spine are almost perfectly preserved, with no chips or tears, and just a few miniscule spots of wear; gilt slightly darkened, lower spine with a few faint damp-stains, spine slightly cocked; covers slightly bowed; a small light white stain and smaller black spot in lower right corner of upper cover; hinges tight, one gathering slightly sprung; clean throughout, with just a few odd minor spots of foxing; all in all, a most gently worn, clean, attractive copy, which, were it not for the absence of the front free endpaper, could easily bear a price in the neighborhood of $20,000.00.