THOREAU, Henry David (1817-1862). Walden; or, Life in the Woods. Boston: Ticknor and Fields, 1854.

THOREAU, Henry David (1817-1862). Walden; or, Life in the Woods. Boston: Ticknor and Fields, 1854.

The first edition, first printing of this American masterpiece. Robert Frost remarked that in this one book Thoreau "surpasses everything we have had in America" (letter to Wade Van Dore, 24 June 1922). "Solid chunks of thought, in the midst of a solid chunk of nature, proving that the minimum of cash expenditure and of creature comfort may result in the maximum of acute observation and cerebration – for almost a hundred years an inspiration to nature-lovers, to philosophers, to those of a Calvin Coolidge turn, and to persons who love to read the English language written with clarity" (Grolier American 63). BAL 20106.

Octavo (177 x 110mm). Title vignette of Thoreau’s cabin, map of Walden Pond with imprint, 8 pages of advertisements dated April 1854. Publisher's original brown cloth (rebacked); in a custom half morocco slipcase. Provenance: J.R. Smith (bookplate) – Maxwell Steinhardt (bookplate).