The House of the Seven Gables, Nathaniel Hawthorne — 1st UK Edition

£180.00

The House of the Seven Gables, Nathaniel Hawthorne — 1st UK Edition

Name: The House of the Seven Gables, Nathaniel Hawthorne — 1st UK Edition
Brand: Broadhursts Books
SKU: 4265
Price: 180.00 GBP
Availability: InStock

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Publication: London, Henry G. Bohn, 1851

Formatting: 8vo, pp. [iv], 250.

Condition Report: Good. The book is tightly bound in a mid-nineteenth-century quarter-leather and pebble-grained cloth binding, which remains structurally sound but exhibits external wear. The spine shows moderate rubbing along the joints, raised bands, and head and tail caps, alongside some fading to the gilt lettering and blind-tooled compartments. The cloth boards present typical shelf-wear, with scuffing and minor bumping to the edges and corners. Internally, the original yellow endpapers remain vibrant, though the hinges show minor stress. The text block is predominantly clean and firm, with some scattered spotting, light browning to the preliminary leaves, and a slightly dusty top edge. An early ownership signature is neatly inscribed at the top margin of the title page.

Catalogue Note: This 1851 printing by Henry G. Bohn represents one of the earliest UK appearances of Hawthorne's celebrated gothic novel. During this period, the lack of firm international copyright laws led to immediate, unauthorized reprintings of popular American literature in England; Bohn, alongside rival publisher George Routledge, rushed to issue this title in the exact same year as the true first American edition (Ticknor, Reed, and Fields, Boston). This early piracy is a fascinating artifact of highly competitive 19th-century transatlantic publishing.

This specific copy has been bound in handsome dark blue pebble-grain cloth with a dark leather spine. It retains the charming oval binder's ticket of "Ellerbeck & Co., 68 Bold Street" to the rear endpaper, representing a well-regarded provincial bindery and stationer in Liverpool. The title page bears the contemporary ink ownership signature of "Robert Roberts, Liverpool," suggesting the book was purchased in sheets and bound locally for a private library shortly after its initial publication in London.

The House of the Seven Gables is Nathaniel Hawthorne's haunting exploration of generational guilt, retribution, and the inescapable shadows of the past. Centered around a gloomy, cursed New England mansion and the fading Pyncheon family, the novel masterfully weaves themes of witchcraft, greed, and hidden crimes. A seminal work of American Romanticism, Hawthorne's atmospheric narrative continues to captivate readers with its psychological depth and gothic brilliance.

Book Condition: Good

Book Authors: Nathaniel Hawthorne

Book Publisher: Henry G. Bohn

Book Language: English

Narrative Type: Fiction

Genre: Classic Fiction

Book edition: First Edition

Signed: No

Book Pages: 250

Book Publication Year: 1851

Book Publication Date:

Book Binding: Hardcover (Quarter Leather)

Illustrator: N/A

Book Series: N/A

Country/region of manufacture: London, United Kingdom

Book Dimensions:

Book Condition Guide

We stock thousands of books in a wide range of conditions. To make things clear and to help you know exactly what to expect, Please refer to these condition categories to understand the condition of the book you will receive.

Condition	Description
New	A brand-new, unread and professionally handled book. Carefully preserved from publication to purchase, these books are offered in the best attainable condition. This grade applies to recently published titles that have not entered long-term storage.
As New	The book is in pristine, original condition as if just published. No signs of use or handling. The dust jacket (if present) is equally flawless. This grade applies to any book that has remained untouched in storage for years.
Fine	The book is close to As New. It remains bright and attractive, but could show minor imperfections to the boards and/or dust jacket (if present). Its pages are typically clean and unmarked.
Near Fine	The book has a number of small flaws, i.e. slight rubbing to the edges, or tiny chips or creases to the dust jacket (if present). Its pages may have faint marks, or creases that are barely perceptible — nothing that detracts from their overall condition.
Very Good	The book maintains its structural integrity, and has no major flaws such as tears to its binding or pages. It may, however, show signs of careful use, handling, or storage — small marks and creases, light foxing. Its dust jacket (if present) remains fully intact, but small tears may be present.
Good	A book that remains intact and readable with complete text pages, but shows moderate signs of wear and use to both the book and dust jacket (if present). It may have noticeable creases, nicks, or stains, and the spine likely shows fading, bumping, and rubbing. There could be writing, underlining, and other marks on some pages, though the majority will be clean and tidy.
Fair	A book with significant wear or damage. The text pages will be complete, but there may be heavy underlining, highlighting and staining throughout, and the book’s endpapers, half-title, and copyright pages could be damaged or missing. The binding could be loose, and the dust jacket (if present) may have notable scuffs or tears. These copies are usually of interest for content, signature(s) or scarcity.
Poor	A heavily worn book whose value lies in its complete and legible text. A poor book will have substantial defects — loose joints or hinges, detached covers, loose and/or missing pages, and could be heavily soiled. A poor book is also known as a reading copy, and although compromised, can hold historical or bibliographic significance.