[Thoreau, Henry David] Early Spring in Massachusetts

Boston: Houghton Mifflin and Company, 1881.

First edition. Original publisher's dark green smooth cloth, beveled boards, with gilt lettered facsimile signature of Thoreau on cover, gilt lettering on spine. Dark green endpapers. Top edges gilt. First Edition, first printing of one of Thoreau's "Season" books. While Thoreau published only two books during his lifetime, after his death, his friend Harrison Blake edited and published sections of his journal as Early Spring in Massachusetts (1881), Summer (1884), Winter (1888) and Autumn (1892), all issued by Houghton, Mifflin and Company. Regarding Blake's arrangements of the selections, "In reading the Journal for my own satisfaction, I had sometimes been wont to attend each day to what was written on the same day of the month in some other year... the phenomena which Thoreau noticed, so to be brought nearer to the writer by observing the same sights, sounds and have my love of nature quickened by him." Covers with rubbing on both sides, showing loss of color. Internal hinges unbroken, very good and tight internally. Owner's signature dated Aug., 1881.

Price: $450.00   Item #5038