1864 Rare book- The Snow-Image, A Childish Miracle by Nathaniel Hawthorne.

Author: Nathaniel Hawthorne.
Illustrations: Illustrated by Marcus Waterman. 
Title: The Snow-Image: A Childish Miracle.
Publisher: New York: James G. Gregory, 540 Broadway, 1864. First Separate Illustrated Edition.
Language: Text in English.
Size:  7.5 x 6 inches.
Pages: 31 pages.
Binding: Very good original publisher’s green cloth binding with fine allover wave-grain texture. Upper board stamped in gilt with decorative title lettering and ornamental border; rear board blind-stamped with matching border (hinges fine, overall slightly worn and scuffed - as shown) under a protective, removable mylar cover. A clean, well-preserved example of mid-19th-century American decorative cloth binding.
Content: Very good content (bright, tight and clean, rare light foxing - as shown, ex libris bookplate of Elissa Woolford - as shown).
Illustrations: Illustrated with hand-colored plates by Marcus Waterman, including the vignette title illustration and full-page scenes depicting Violet, Peony, and the snow-child. The coloring remains fresh and expressive, enhancing Hawthorne’s winter tale. Complete.

Estimate: (USD 250 – 300).

The book: The Snow-Image: A Childish Miracle is one of Nathaniel Hawthorne’s most evocative short tales for young readers, first published as part of his Twice-Told Tales. The story explores imagination, innocence, and moral consequence through the haunting figure of a snow-child brought briefly to life by belief alone. This 1864 New York edition presents the text as a standalone volume, enriched with hand-colored illustrations that mirror the delicacy and emotional restraint of Hawthorne’s prose.
The book is particularly appealing for its refined pictorial program, combining sentimental realism with a restrained palette well suited to the winter setting. Issued during a period of growing interest in illustrated gift books for children, it reflects the era’s attention to both literary quality and visual presentation.

The author: Nathaniel Hawthorne (1804–1864) stands as one of the central figures of 19th-century American literature. Best known for The Scarlet Letter and his short fiction, Hawthorne frequently explored themes of morality, imagination, and the unseen consequences of human action. The Snow-Image exemplifies his ability to adapt these concerns for younger audiences without diminishing their philosophical depth.