Click for full-size.
Twice-Told Tales
by Hawthorne, Nathaniel
- Used
- first
- Condition
- Publisher's brown embossed cloth, title stamped in gilt to spine. Light wear and staining to covers, cloth split at rear joint,
- Seller
-
New York, New York, United States
Payment Methods Accepted
About This Item
Boston: American Stationers Co., John B. Russell, 1837. First edition. Publisher's circular device on title-page. [4, ads], [5]-334, [2], [16, catalogue] pp. 1 vols. 8vo. Publisher's brown embossed cloth, title stamped in gilt to spine. Light wear and staining to covers, cloth split at rear joint, foxing throughout. In a custom blue morocco pull-of case, gilt, by Stikeman. First edition. Publisher's circular device on title-page. [4, ads], [5]-334, [2], [16, catalogue] pp. 1 vols. 8vo. His Second Book. Hawthorne's second book, and although it was not the dismal failure that Fanshawe had been, it attracted hardly any notice when it was issued thus in 1837. Now, of course, it is one of the most famous collections of short fiction in American literature.
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; Clarke A2.1; Wilson 129. Provenance: Henry R. Cleveland (bookplate and pencil inscription on title, Burlington 1837); Agnes Neustadt (bookplate)
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; Clarke A2.1; Wilson 129. Provenance: Henry R. Cleveland (bookplate and pencil inscription on title, Burlington 1837); Agnes Neustadt (bookplate)
Synopsis
Twice-Told Tales by Nathaniel Hawthorne is a collection of short stories, most of which are infused with a very New England gothic tone. The first was published in the spring of 1837, and the second in 1842. The stories had all been previously published in magazines and annuals. The title, Twice-Told Tales , was drawn from William Shakespeare's The Life and Death of King John (Act 3, scene 4): "Life is as tedious as a twice-told tale, / Vexing the dull ear of a drowsy man." The piece is composed of sketches and tales, mostly allegories and moralistic fantasies including "The Gray Champion," "The Wedding Knell," "The Minister's Black Veil," "Mr. Higginbotham's Catastrophe," "Wakefield," "The Great Carbuncle," "The Prophetic Pictures," "The Hollow of the Three Hills," "Fancy's Show Box," and "Dr. Heidegger's Experiment."
Reviews
(Log in or Create an Account first!)
Details
- Bookseller
- James Cummins Bookseller
(US)
- Bookseller's Inventory #
- 306292
- Title
- Twice-Told Tales
- Author
- Hawthorne, Nathaniel
- Format/Binding
- Publisher's circular device on title-page. [4, ads], [5]-334, [2], [16, catalogue] pp. 1 vols. 8vo
- Book Condition
- Used - Publisher's brown embossed cloth, title stamped in gilt to spine. Light wear and staining to covers, cloth split at rear joint,
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Edition
- First edition
- Publisher
- American Stationers Co., John B. Russell
- Place of Publication
- Boston
- Date Published
- 1837
- Keywords
- German | Nathaniel Hawthorne
- Bookseller catalogs
- Literature;
Terms of Sale
James Cummins Bookseller
All items, as usual, are guaranteed as described and are returnable within 30 days if not as described. Within the United States, all books are shipped UPS unless otherwise requested (please provide a street address). Overseas orders should specify shipping preference. All postage is extra. New clients are requested to send remittance with your orders. Libraries may apply for deferred billing. All New York and New Jersey residents must add the appropriate sales tax. We accept American Express, Master Card, and Visa. All items are subject to prior sale; prices are subject to change.
About the Seller
James Cummins Bookseller
Biblio member since 2009
New York, New York
About James Cummins Bookseller
Founded in 1978 by James Cummins, the firm has grown to include two New Jersey locations as well as the main store at 699 Madison Avenue (between 62nd and 63rd Streets) in New York City.Hours: Monday - Friday 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. (During July & August, until 4:00 p.m. on Fridays.)The Madison Avenue store is a seventh-floor oasis for book-lovers, a quiet and pleasantly furnished book room with a carefully chosen, expertly catalogued and broad-based selection of fine and rare books, autographs, manuscripts, and works of art. We have built notable private collections for American and international clients. Our stock is always changing, and our steady input from private buying and public auctions assures our clients of new surprises (and temptations!) at each visit. Our stock covers a wide range of collecting interests, with particular emphasis in the following fields: British and American Literature, Sporting Books, Private Press and Illustrated Books, 19th-Century Color Plate Books, Americana, Travel, Sets and Fine Bindings, History, and Authors' Manuscripts and Letters. Our catalogued inventory exceeds 50,000 titles, much of which can be searched on the internet. In addition, our New Jersey warehouse contains over 400,000 books in all subject areas. We might have the books you're looking for.
Glossary
Some terminology that may be used in this description includes:
- Device
- Especially for older books, a printer's device refers to an identifying mark, also sometimes called a printer's mark, on the...
- BAL
- Bibliography of American Literature (commonly abbreviated as BAL in descriptions) is the quintessential reference work for any...
- 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....
- Morocco
- Morocco is a style of leather book binding that is usually made with goatskin, as it is durable and easy to dye. (see also...
- Cloth
- "Cloth-bound" generally refers to a hardcover book with cloth covering the outside of the book covers. The cloth is stretched...
- Gilt
- The decorative application of gold or gold coloring to a portion of a book on the spine, edges of the text block, or an inlay in...
- 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...
Frequently asked questions
This Book’s Categories
Collecting Children’s Literature
Children’s books are among some of the most popular themes to build a book collection on. Learn a bit more in our Brief History of Children’s Literature.
How to identify a rare book
There are several important points to keep in mind when trying to determine if a book can be considered "rare". Read here to learn more.Learn how to determine if a book is rare
