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FIRST EDITION OF WALDEN, WITH A MANUSCRIPT BY EMERSON ON WALDEN POND
Thoreau, Henry David. Walden; or, Life in the Woods. Boston: Ticknor and Fields, 1854.
Map. Original brown cloth. Minor wear to spine ends, very minor stains to one board. A near fine copy. Half morocco case.
FIRST EDITION. Walden was published in 1854 in an edition of 2000 copies. "The charm of its vignettes of nature was considered its most attractive feature at that time, but its telling satire of the American business economy, its advocacy of the virtues of simple life, and its Transcendentalist endorsement of sturdy individualism have won it an ever-increasing number of readers. . .It has become one of the bestselling American nonfiction classics and has been translated into virtually every major modern language. The word 'Walden' has become a universal synonym for a personal utopia" (ANB). The image of the solitary Thoreau writing in his cabin at Walden Pond is firmly impressed on the American imagination. This book contains "solid chunks of thought, in the midst of a solid chunk of nature. . .For almost a hundred years an inspiration to nature lovers, to philosophers, to sociologists. . .and to persons who love to read the English language written with clarity." Grolier 100 American Books 63. BAL 20106.
A handsome copy of this difficult book, entirely unrestored.
Provenance: E. J. Cutler, with his signature and bookplate. Thoreau mentions Cutler in an 1856 letter to his sister Sophia. Discussing his lectures in New Jersey, he refers to Theodore Weld's school, then describes Weld and Cutler, "his assistant, lately from Cambridge, who is acquainted [with Thoreau's friend abolitionist E. J. Sanborn]."
[with:]
EMERSON ON KEEPING WALDEN POND NON-COMMERCIAL
Emerson, Ralph Waldo. Autograph Note Signed. Concord, Aug. 26th 1880.
One page. Tipped into the present copy of Walden at the front.
Emerson writes, in what may be a public notice for publication in the newspaper, "This is to certify that I do not permit or authorize any person to sell or expose for sale any goods or articles of food or drink, hereafter, for the rest of the season, upon my grounds in the neighbourhood of Walden Pond and regard such persons as trespassers. R. Waldo Emerson."
Thoreau had built his famous cabin on Emerson's land on the north shore of Walden Pond.
Price: $35,000.
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