Nathaniel Hawthorne, 1837

HAWTHORNE, Nathaniel (1804-1864). Twice-Told Tales. Boston: American Stationers Co., 1837.

First edition, the Chrysler copy. One of 1,000 copies. Here, Hawthorne "advanced the cause of criminologists to the very threshold of modern technique." Vincent Starrett said of the story "Mr. Higginbotham's Catastrophe": "it comes close to becoming a detective story in the purest sense" and Edgar Allan Poe said the story is "vividly original and managed most dexterously" (see Queen's Quorum, p.10). BAL 7581.

Octavo. 4 pp. ads at front, 16 pp. ads at rear (preliminary ads and title page a little toned and repaired; small loss to corner of rear endpaper). Original black cloth, gilt stamped spine (a little rubbed at spine ends and corners, spine darkened and gilt a little dulled). Custom chemise and slipcase. Provenance: William C. Shaw (ownership inscription to title-page) –Walter Chrysler (leather bookplate loosely inserted).