The points of issue
First edition, first printing of 2,500 copies, Ticknor, Reed & Fields, Boston, 1850, in brown cloth with blind-stamped covers. The most cited first-printing reading is 'reduplicate' for 'repudiate' at page 21, line 20; scholars note this arose from two settings of the gathering containing page 21, so it is best described as a first-printing textual reading rather than an absolute point of issue. The first printing does NOT contain the additional 'Custom-House' preface note. Confirm the 1850 imprint and the early textual readings on any given copy.
Is this the true first?
US true first edition, Ticknor, Reed & Fields, 1850. The first printing of 2,500 copies sold quickly and a second printing of 2,500 followed within weeks. The second printing ADDED Hawthorne's preface (dated March 30, 1850) responding to the controversy over 'The Custom-House' sketch, in which he reprinted the introduction without change; the presence of that preface indicates the second printing, not the first.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Numerous later reprints exist. A first printing must bear the 1850 Ticknor, Reed & Fields imprint and the brown blind-stamped cloth, and must LACK the added preface note that distinguishes the second printing. Treat any single textual reading cautiously, as scholars dispute its reliability as an issue point.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Scarlet Letter: A Romance a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First edition, first printing of 2,500 copies, Ticknor, Reed & Fields, Boston, 1850, in brown cloth with blind-stamped covers. The most cited first-printing reading is 'reduplicate' for 'repudiate' at page 21, line 20; scholars note this arose from two settings of the gathering containing page 21, so it is best described as a first-printing textual reading rather than an absolute point of issue. The first printing does NOT contain the additional 'Custom-House' preface note. Confirm the 1850 imprint and the early textual readings on any given copy.
How do I tell the first printing from a later one?
Check the copyright page for the publisher's first-printing convention and confirm the points above. US true first edition, Ticknor, Reed & Fields, 1850. The first printing of 2,500 copies sold quickly and a second printing of 2,500 followed within weeks. The second printing ADDED Hawthorne's preface (dated March 30, 1850) responding to the controversy over 'The Custom-House' sketch, in which he re
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Numerous later reprints exist. A first printing must bear the 1850 Ticknor, Reed & Fields imprint and the brown blind-stamped cloth, and must LACK the added preface note that distinguishes the second printing. Treat any single textual reading cautiously, as scholars dispute its reliability as an issue point.
I have a first edition of The Scarlet Letter: A Romance — what should I do?
If you're clearing books, New Mexico Literacy Project offers free pickup in Albuquerque, any condition, and makes sure collectible copies aren't lost. To sell, see the author's collecting guide. Either way, nothing valuable ends up in a landfill.