THOREAU, HENRY DAVID. A WEEK ON THE CONCORD AND MERRIMACK RIVERS. 8vo, original brown cloth, ruled in blind on covers, gilt-lettered

on spine, spine ends repaired, a little rubbed; bookplates; 1/4 morocco slipcase. Boston and Cambridge: James Munroe and Company, 1849 FIRST EDITION of the author's first book. With the advertisement leaf for Walden at rear. Of the 1000 copies printed (at the author's own expense) 706 were eventually returned to the author, who succeeded in disposing of a few of them himself. In his journal entry for 28 October 1853, Thoreau wrote: "... For a year or two-past my publisher, falsely so called, has been writing...to ask what disposition should be made of the copies of "A Week..." still on hand...so I had them all sent to me here...706 copies...They are something more substantial than fame, as my back knows, which has borne them up two flights of stairs...I now have a library of nearly 900 volumes, over 700 of which I wrote myself..." From the Library of Henry William Poor, with his morocco bookplate. Allen, pages 1-5; BAL 20104.