HAWTHORNE, NATHANIEL. 1804-1864.
Fanshawe, A Tale. Boston: Marsh & Capen, 1828. 12mo. Publisher's muslin backed boards, spine label lacking, spine skillfully repaired, light dampstain to upper corner, endpaper, lessening through first 5 leaves,
Provenance: Lizzie H. Coe (ink inscription, dated "Cayuga, Ill/ 1885); sold Christies, New York, May 17, 1989, lot 70.
HAWTHORNE'S EXCEEDINGLY SCARCE FIRST BOOK, published anonymously and actively suppressed by Hawthorne in his lifetime. Written while he was still a student at Bowdoin, Fanshawe was published soon after his graduation. Both Hawthorne's sister and the publisher report that Hawthorne instructed them not to associate him with the book. However, according to Clark, ""Although Hawthorne later suppressed knowledge of the existence of Fanshawe, the scarcity of this work results primarily from destruction in a warehouse fire of the publisher's inventory." BAL 7570; Clark A1.1.