Melville, Herman
First US edition of Melville's greatest work, in the first issue binding (BAL's "A" state, with the publisher's device on the covers and orange endpapers). The US edition was the first to bear the title Moby Dick and contains 35 passages and the epilogue by Richard Bentley, the British editor, omitted from the slightly earlier British edition. Red cloth is the rarest of the first issue binding colours, and more sought after that the more common blue examples.
8vo. [iix], [x, numbered 9-10], [xi, numbered 11], xii-xxiii, [xxiv, blank], 1-635, [636, blank], six pages of publisher's advertisements at rear, preliminary and rear blanks. Original publisher's red "A" cloth (first binding), spine lettered in gilt with decorative gilt border at head and foot, blindstamped with publisher's circular device at center ("Harper Brothers New York") in blind-ruled frame; orange endpapers and double fly-leaves at front and back. Housed in a custom red cloth chemise and brown morocco-backed slipcase. Extremities a little worn, some consistent soiling to binding and top edge, front joint splitting at head, light browning to endpapers, minor repair to top corner of front free endpaper. Some foxing as usual, spine of slipcase a little faded: a very good copy.
Provenance: bookplate of one Benjamin L. Jacobs on front free pastedown.
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