MOBY DICK; OR THE WHALE (COLLECTOR'S EDITION with an INTRODUCTION BY CLIFTON FADIMAN)
by Melville, Herman
- Used
- Hardcover
- Condition
- Like New
- ISBN 10
- 0840769008
- ISBN 13
- 9780840769008
- Seller
-
Lithia , Florida, United States
Payment Methods Accepted
About This Item
THOMAS NELSON, 1992. hardcover. Like New. 7x1x5. Leather bound--no flaws
Synopsis
Melville's classic was first published in England as three volumes titled The Whale in October 1851. Slow sales of Melville's previously books convinced Publisher L. Richard Bentley to reduce the printing to only 500 copies, and of that, only 300 sold in the first 4 months. The remaining unbound sheets were bound in a cheaper casing in 1852, and in 1853 there were still enough remaining sheets to again bind into an even cheaper edition. Melville changed the title to Moby Dick a month later, November 1851, when the American Version was published in one volume by Harper & Brothers in NY. Of the 2,951 copies printed, 125 were review copies. About 1,500 sold in 11 days, but then sales slowed to less than 300 the next year. After two years copies of the first edition were still available, and almost 300 were destroyed in the 1853 fire of Harper's warehouse. Most of the first editions have orange end-papers, although there are 2 known volumes with rare white-endpapers. Because of Nineteenth-century printing practices, and the time-lapse between when the first-editions were published and Melville became collectible, oxidized paper, bumped and chipped spines, and brittle wrappers are all common for even the most expensive and collectible of these books, which can sell from $35,000 to $100,000. Also, expect heavy wear and maybe even minor repair. Another collectible edition is the 1930 first edition illustrated by Rockwell Kent, a three-volume set published by the Lakeside Press with acetate dust jackets in an aluminum slipcase. These range in value from $9,000 to $11,000. A total of 3,215 copies of Moby-Dick were sold during Melville's life (he died in 1891). Today, Moby-Dick is considered one of the greatest American novels. -
Reviews
On Mar 9 2016, a reader said:
Why would this be 600 since the original was in 1851?
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Details
- Bookseller
- Sunshine State Books
(US)
- Bookseller's Inventory #
- TA231206006N4
- Title
- MOBY DICK; OR THE WHALE (COLLECTOR'S EDITION with an INTRODUCTION BY CLIFTON FADIMAN)
- Author
- Melville, Herman
- Format/Binding
- Hardcover
- Book Condition
- New Like New
- Quantity Available
- 1
- ISBN 10
- 0840769008
- ISBN 13
- 9780840769008
- Publisher
- THOMAS NELSON
- Place of Publication
- Nashville
- Date Published
- 1992
- Size
- 7x1x5
- X weight
- 51 oz
Terms of Sale
Sunshine State Books
We accept all returns that we receive in same condition as when shipped within 30 days of delivery. We don't accept any returns after that time. If the book is being returned because we made an error in describing it, we will pay all postage. If we did describe the issue on the listing page and you failed to read it, we will process a refund minus shipping charges in both directions. If the book is being returned for a reason such as 'no longer needed' or 'bought by mistake', we will process a refund minus all shipping charges. Thanks
About the Seller
Sunshine State Books
Biblio member since 2021
Lithia , Florida
About Sunshine State Books
Internet bookseller for past 21 years.
Glossary
Some terminology that may be used in this description includes:
- New
- A new book is a book previously not circulated to a buyer. Although a new book is typically free of any faults or defects, "new"...
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