The Scarlet Letter
The Scarlet Letter is a novel by Nathaniel Hawthorne, published by Ticknor, Reed and Fields in Boston in March 1850; its first printing of 2,500 copies sold out quickly. Set in Puritan Boston, it follows Hester Prynne, made to wear a scarlet A after bearing a child whose father she will not name.
- Editions tracked
- 2
- First edition
- Ticknor and Fields, 1850
- First published
- Ticknor, Reed and Fields, Boston, 1850
- Worth
- Not yet valued
Which edition do you have?
First edition
- 1st Ticknor and Fields1850 Hardback Not yet valued Log in to want this
Later and other editions
- David Bogue1851 Hardback Not yet valued Log in to want this
We have not yet researched the issue points for this book. If you know how to tell the first from later printings, tell us and we will credit you once it is checked against a second source.
More by Nathaniel Hawthorne
- Twice-Told Tales1837 · 2 editions
- A Wonder Book for Girls and Boys1851 · 3 editions
- The House of the Seven Gables1851 · 2 editions
- The Blithedale Romance1852 · 2 editions
- Tanglewood Tales1853 · 2 editions
- The Marble Faun1860 · 2 editions
- Young Goodman Brown1993 · 1 edition
- The Scarlet Letter1994 · 1 edition
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Know what you are looking at
How to Identify a First Edition
To identify a first edition, check that your copy is the first printing of the first edition. Read the copyright …
Read the guide →6 min readBook Condition Grading: Fine to Poor Explained
Book condition grading uses a six-step trade scale: Fine, Near Fine, Very Good, Good, Fair and Poor. Collectors grade the …
Read the guide →7 min readDust Jackets Explained: Why the Jacket Drives a Book's Value
For most books published since the 1920s, the original dust jacket carries a large share of the value, often most …
Read the guide →Frequently asked questions
Who published the first edition of The Scarlet Letter?
The first edition of The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne was published in Boston by Ticknor and Fields in 1850.
How many editions of The Scarlet Letter are there?
We track 2 editions of The Scarlet Letter, including 1 first edition. Each has its own page with how to identify it.
How can I tell if my copy of The Scarlet Letter is a first edition?
Check the title page and its reverse (the copyright page) against the edition: publisher, place and date should match, with no later printing or edition stated. Where we know the issue points, they are listed on the edition's page.
Where these facts come from
- The Scarlet Letter, Wikipedia (en.wikipedia.org)
- The Scarlet Letter (Q907568), Wikidata (wikidata.org)
- Special Collections: The Scarlet Letter, Maryland State Law Library (mdcourts.gov)
Every fact on this page was checked against the sources listed. Checked 17 October 2026.