The Celestial Rail-Road
by Hawthorne, Nathaniel
- Used
- Fine
- Hardcover
- Condition
- Fine
- Seller
-
Stevenson, Maryland, United States
Payment Methods Accepted
About This Item
Original printed wrappers. Resewn, lightly worn. Fine. Red morocco pull-off case.
First edition. One of the most famous Hawthorne rarities, The Celestial Rail-Road was pirated from the May 1843 Democratic Review to Hawthorne's chagrin. This copy bears the James F. Fish imprint. Other copies bear the Wilder & Co. imprint, which Clark suggests appeared first. BAL does not assign priority. Wakeman catalogue notes that "both issues are excessively rare, and particularly so in immaculate condition, as are the present copies [Wakeman had an example of each imprint]." Carroll Wilson notes that "the Fish imprint is rare rarer."
Written in 1843 when the railroad linked the reflective solitude of Concord and the frenzied commerce of Boston, The Celestial Railroad examines the parallels between timesaving modern industry and the search for a time-saving route to salvation. This satirical allegory was inspired by Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress. "The Celestial Railroad … is the finest tribute ever paid to Bunyan's genius. It is also the height of Hawthorne's humor" (Moncure Conway).
Rare: the last copy to be sold at auction was the Fleming copy, sold in 1988.
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Details
- Bookseller
- 19th Century Rare Book and Photograph Shop (US)
- Bookseller's Inventory #
- 42820753
- Title
- The Celestial Rail-Road
- Author
- Hawthorne, Nathaniel
- Book Condition
- Used - Fine
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Binding
- Hardcover
- Publisher
- James F. Fish
- Place of Publication
- Boston
- Date Published
- 1843
- Weight
- 0.00 lbs
Terms of Sale
19th Century Rare Book and Photograph Shop
30 day return guarantee, with full refund including shipping costs for up to 30 days after delivery if an item arrives misdescribed or damaged.
About the Seller
19th Century Rare Book and Photograph Shop
About 19th Century Rare Book and Photograph Shop
Glossary
Some terminology that may be used in this description includes:
- 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...
- Wrappers
- The paper covering on the outside of a paperback. Also see the entry for pictorial wraps, color illustrated coverings for...
- Fine
- A book in fine condition exhibits no flaws. A fine condition book closely approaches As New condition, but may lack the...
- BAL
- Bibliography of American Literature (commonly abbreviated as BAL in descriptions) is the quintessential reference work for any...