WALDEN, Or, Life In the Woods

Boston: Ticknor and Fields, 1854. First Edition, First Printing of this cornerstone work of American literature, the ads dated "June 1854" with no bibliographical significance as noted by BAL, though these were printed prior to the July 1854 publication of the book. Illustrated with the map of Walden Pond printed on a separate leaf and inserted at p. 306, and with a vignette illustration to the title-page showing Thoreau's house in the woods at Walden Pond. 8vo, in the publisher’s original ribbed brown cloth lettered in gilt and ruled in blind on spine, bordered and decorated in blind on all covers with small floral designs coming in from the corners towards a large central floral scrollwork, pale yellow flies and endpapers. Now housed in a light brown cloth-covered folding case and with wrap around chemise, the spine of the case with a dark brown morocco label lettered in green. 357, [8 ads (dated June 1854)] pp. A especially handsome copy indeed, one of the nicest we've seen in quite some while, internally fine and very fresh, crisp and clean, a few spots on the title-page only, otherwise completely free of any signs of foxing or staining. The binding in unusually fine condition, rarely found as such, the cloth is deep and dark brown with no fading whatsoever, the gilt on the spine uncommonly bright, sharp and neat corners and edges, a few minor spots barely noticeable, just a hint of very minor rubbing at the head and tail of the spine, in all an exceptional copy. Very tidy ownership stamp of Arthur Holland on the blank front free-fly. HIGHLY IMPORTANT FIRST EDITION OF A SEMINAL WORK IN AMERICAN LITERATURE. "I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived."
WALDEN has taken its place as one of the most important pieces of American literature and a highlight of American thought. In attempting an experiment in simple living Thoreau became the embodiment of the American quest for the spiritual over the material; and his book, ostensibly a simple record of his experiment, has earned the reputation as a work of great philosophical import.
Walden is part personal declaration of independence, social experiment, voyage of spiritual discovery, satire, and manual for self-reliance. By immersing himself in nature, Thoreau hoped to gain a more objective understanding of society through personal introspection. Simple living and self-sufficiency were Thoreau's other goals, and the whole project was inspired by transcendentalist philosophy, a central theme of the American Romantic Period. As Thoreau made clear in his book, his cabin was not in the wilderness, but at the edge of town, only about two miles from his family home.