Moby-Dick; or, The Whale.
New York: Harper & Brothers, 1851. Hardcover. Small 8vo. Original pebble-grained red cloth with gilt spine lettering and blind-embossed rules and front board publisher's device. xxiii, 635pp, (6pp ads). Very good. Internally tight and unrestored, showing only mild sporadic age toning and occasional light foxing; binding is sound and decent, with exposed tips; somewhat rough spine has had mild and discreet archival restoration; pencilled 1852 ownership signature on inner flyleaf. Item #42443
A tight, presentable and quite handleable first U.S. edition, first issue, of this giant of 19th century literature. One of only 3000 U.S. copies, the American edition (preceded by the 2-volume English version one month prior) met with little fanfare, and supposedly many unsold copies were destroyed in an 1854 warehouse fire. Original terra cotta endpapers. Despite wear this is a respectable copy, appropriately priced. Housed in a handsome custom red cloth clamshell case with gilt spine lettering. BAL 13664.
Price: $19,500.00