THE GOLDEN LEGEND.
Boston: Ticknor, Reed, and Fields, 1852. Original blind-stamped brown cloth.
First Edition, first printing. This is a book-length narrative poem based on a Middle High German romance by Hartmann von Aue [c.1170 - c.1210]; Longfellow's version was soon adapted as a cantata by Sir Arthur Sullivan (of Gilbert & Sullivan).
The first printing was actually published on Nov 29, 1851, and partway through the printing of the 3600 copies, it was decided to change the title page date from 1851 to 1852 (as here) -- neither version was published (released to the public) before the other; in fact the copyright deposit copy is one of the 1852-dated copies. This copy does have all twelve of the first-printing issue points enumerated by Blanck (the second and third printings were also dated 1852, but have these textual changes).
This copy is in the standard brown binding (others were bound in "gift" bindings that had gilt decoration); there is no preliminary ad catalogue, present in some copies only. It is in near-fine condition (very slight soil, occasional light foxing within); there is a calligraphic inked ownership inscription dated Jan. 1, 1852. Blanck 12102. Item #14676
Price: $250.00