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THE TOUCHSTONE
by Wharton, Edith
- Used
- first
- Condition
- See description
- Seller
-
Yarmouth, Maine, United States
Payment Methods Accepted
About This Item
1900. [her first novel] New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1900. 2 pp undated ads. Original dark grey-green paper-covered boards with spine decorated in gilt.
First Edition of Edith Wharton's first novel (actually a novella). This was her fourth book overall, preceded by VERSES (1878), THE DECORATION OF HOUSES (1897) and THE GREATER INCLINATION (short stories - 1899); about six months later this was published in England as A GIFT FROM THE GRAVE, because the American title had already been used by another English author. THE TOUCHSTONE showed the influence of Henry James both in its form as a novelette and in its occupation with ethical values. It is concerned with a man torn between his desire to obtain money to marry the woman he loves, and his reluctance to sell the love letters written to him by a celebrated woman [OCAL]. This is a fine, bright copy of this handsome book (printed at the Merrymount Press); there is a 1900 signature on the front endpaper. Since these early Wharton books were bound in fragile paper-covered boards, rather than in cloth, copies in this condition are infrequently encountered. Garrison A4.I.a.
First Edition of Edith Wharton's first novel (actually a novella). This was her fourth book overall, preceded by VERSES (1878), THE DECORATION OF HOUSES (1897) and THE GREATER INCLINATION (short stories - 1899); about six months later this was published in England as A GIFT FROM THE GRAVE, because the American title had already been used by another English author. THE TOUCHSTONE showed the influence of Henry James both in its form as a novelette and in its occupation with ethical values. It is concerned with a man torn between his desire to obtain money to marry the woman he loves, and his reluctance to sell the love letters written to him by a celebrated woman [OCAL]. This is a fine, bright copy of this handsome book (printed at the Merrymount Press); there is a 1900 signature on the front endpaper. Since these early Wharton books were bound in fragile paper-covered boards, rather than in cloth, copies in this condition are infrequently encountered. Garrison A4.I.a.
Synopsis
Stephen Glennard is in desperate need of money; his career is in ruins and he wants to marry his beautiful fiancee. He unearths the passionate love-letters written to him by the famous, now-deceased author Margaret Aubyn, and sells them, erasing only his name. He makes a fortune from the betrayal and begins his marriage from it.The Touchstone was Edith Wharton's first published novella.
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Details
- Bookseller
- Sumner & Stillman
(US)
- Bookseller's Inventory #
- 15478
- Title
- THE TOUCHSTONE
- Author
- Wharton, Edith
- Book Condition
- Used
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Date Published
- 1900
- Keywords
- Merrymount Press
- Bookseller catalogs
- Fiction (Early 20th Century); Books By Women; Authors' First Books;
Terms of Sale
Sumner & Stillman
30 day return guarantee, with full refund including original shipping costs for up to 30 days after delivery if an item arrives misdescribed or damaged.
About the Seller
Sumner & Stillman
Biblio member since 2009
Yarmouth, Maine
About Sumner & Stillman
Founded in 1980, Sumner & Stillman is a small family business providing personal service in the buying and selling of literary first editions of the 19th and early 20th Centuries. Member of the Antiquarian Booksellers Association of America (ABAA) for over 30 years.
Glossary
Some terminology that may be used in this description includes:
- First Edition
- In book collecting, the first edition is the earliest published form of a book. A book may have more than one first edition in...
- Spine
- The outer portion of a book which covers the actual binding. The spine usually faces outward when a book is placed on a shelf....
- Cloth
- "Cloth-bound" generally refers to a hardcover book with cloth covering the outside of the book covers. The cloth is stretched...
- Gilt
- The decorative application of gold or gold coloring to a portion of a book on the spine, edges of the text block, or an inlay in...
- New
- A new book is a book previously not circulated to a buyer. Although a new book is typically free of any faults or defects, "new"...
- Fine
- A book in fine condition exhibits no flaws. A fine condition book closely approaches As New condition, but may lack the...
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