HAWTHORNE, Nathaniel (1804-1864). The Gentle Boy: A Thrice Told Tale. Boston: Weeks, Jordan & Co., 1839.

The Chrysler copy, in original wrappers, of the first separate edition. “The Gentle Boy,” a moving tale of the Puritan persecution of the Quakers—inspired by William Sewel’s History of the Quakers and informed by Hawthorne’s own ancestor William Hathorne’s culpability—appeared in The Token in 1831 and, in revised form, in Twice-Told Tales in 1837. The latter version, now “A Thrice-Told Tale,” is complemented in this first separate edition by the engraving of Sophia’s image of the Gentle Boy with the Puritan. The present copy has Clark's second state of the text with "faces" at 18-1.9, and the third state of frontispiece with artist's initials and date 1/16" high. BAL 7587; Calrk A2.2a2.

Quarto (260 x 325mm). Frontispiece illustration by Sophia Amelia Peabody (lower corner of final leaf restored, a few small repairs at margins elsewhere). Original brown printed wrappers (backstrip restored, a few repaired tears to rear cover, light soiling and wear at extremities); modern chemise and morocco pull-off box. Provenance: Walter P. Chrysler (bookplate, his sale, Parke-Bernet, 7 & 8 December 1954, lot 151).