PBA Galleries

357, [[5 blank] pp. plus 8 pp. publisher's catalogue, dated June1854, inserted between rear endpapers. (8vo) original brown vertically-ribbed cloth with covers decoratively stamped in blind and spine ruled in blind and lettered in gilt, pale yellow coated endpapers. First Edition.

First edition of one of the landmarks in American letters: "I learned this, at least, by my experiment; that if one advances confidently in the direction of his dreams, and endeavors to live the life which he has imagined, he will meet with a success unexpected in common hours" (p.346). The ads in this copy are dated June, 1854. BAL declares that the dates of the ads have "no known bibliographical significance". 2000 copies of the first edition were printed. This copy with three newsclippings regarding Walden and Thoreau's death and funeral glued to front flyleaf facing title; on the last text page below the printing, and on six following blank pages (including the rear free endpaper) are glued additional newsclippings regarding Thoreau and Walden. In addition, on page 255, on the blank portion below the text, is glued a partial page describing the Loon, with an engraving of said bird. The glued used to affix the paper has discolored and offset to facing pages. BAL 20106; Grolier, 100 American, 63. Bookplate of collector Willis Vickery.