Regarded as Sarah Orne Jewett’s finest work, this 1896 first edition of The Country of the Pointed Firs presents a stunning series of character studies set in a small Maine town. This first printing includes 1896 dates on both the title and copyright page, along with two pages of ads at the rear. Classified as the second state with a blank leaf following the ads (BAL 196), this is a scarce and highly sought-after piece of literary history.
 
Book Details:
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin, 1896
Format: 16mo (7" x 5")
Pages: 213
Binding: Original green cloth over boards with gilt-stamped lettering and decorative elements on the cover and spine
Condition:
Mottling to the cloth along the outer edge of the front board, spine, and lower rear cover
Light fraying at the lower spine tip and a small bump with fraying at the lower front corner
Hinges are a bit loose, with light foxing to the endpapers
Previous owner’s name in ink on the upper front flyleaf
A closed tear on the title page has been professionally repaired
While showing signs of its history, this scarce first edition remains a near very good copy—a treasured piece for collectors of classic American literature and Regional Fiction.