Why Henry David Thoreau kept 706 copies of the same book in his library

Blazing Reader,

Today is the birthday of Henry David Thoreau, one of America's greatest philosophers and writers, most famous for his classic book, Walden. As Blazing Readers know, I've been writing on a novella, partially set in 1846, featuring the eccentric Thoreau.

When researching his life for the novella, I came across this ironic story about his first book:

A Week on the Concord and Merrimack Rivers was published in 1849. It was almost self-published, as Thoreau covered all the publishing costs.

He had 1,000 copies printed.

Only 219 copies sold in the first seven years.

In 1856, Thoreau wrote in his journal:

For a year or two past, my publisher, falsely so called, has been writing from time to time to ask what disposition should be made of the copies of 'A Week on the Concord and Merrimack Rivers' still on hand, and at last suggesting that he had use for the room they occupied in his cellar. So I had them all sent to me here... 706 copies out of an edition of 1000... Of the remaining two hundred and ninety and odd, seventy-five were given away, the rest sold. I have now a library of nearly nine hundred volumes, over seven hundred of which I wrote myself.

Now, here comes the irony.

Those 706 first editions, which no one wanted to buy, now sell for $25,000 a piece on Bauman Rare Books.

It's doubly ironic when we consider how in Walden Thoreau stated that,

Books are the treasured wealth of the world and the fit inheritance of generations and nations.... Their authors are a natural and irresistible aristocracy in every society, and, more than kings or emperors, exert an influence on mankind.

Now, if $25,000 for a copy of A Week on the Concord and Merrimack Rivers seems a little steep you can purchase yourself a copy for under $25 through my Blazing Pine Cone Shop on this... Mr. Thoreau's 208th birthday.

John C.A. Manley

PS For a similar story about how one America's bestselling novels was a commercial failure when first published in 1851, check out my previous post: How one of the "strangest and most wonderful books in the world" was written

PPS For more about my forthcoming novella, starring Henry David Thoreau and Stefanie Müller (from Much Ado About Corona), check out my previous post: Henry David Thoreau and "COVID Disobedience"

John C. A. Manley is the author of Much Ado About Corona, All The Humans Are Sleeping and other works of philosophical fiction that are "so completely engaging that you find yourself alternately laughing, gasping, hanging on for dear life." Get free samples of his stories by becoming a Blazing Pine Cone email subscriber.