Books

HAWTHORNE, Nathaniel. Twice-Told Tales. Original brown cloth, housed in red morocco-backed folding box. Boston: American Stationers Co., 1837. First edition. BAL 7581. Clark A2.1. Wright I:1149. With 16-page publisher's catalogue. Hawthorne's second book and his first collection of short stories, including the memorable "The May-Pole of Merry Mount," "The Great Carbuncle," and "Dr. Heidegger's Experiment." With the bookplate of Florence & Edward Kay, great collector's of mystery and detective fiction. Expertly rebacked, original spine laid down, faint scattered foxing to leaves and foredge, bookplate, early ownership signature, else a very good or better copy.

Twice-Told Tales is a collection of previously published short stories by Nathaniel Hawthorne that was duely noted for its depiction of moral allegories concerning the American Puritanism of Hawthorne's time.