Whenever I find myself growing grim about the mouth; whenever it is a damp, drizzly November in my soul; whenever I find myself involuntarily pausing before coffin warehouses, and bringing up the rear of every funeral I meet; and especially whenever my hypos get such an upper hand of me, that it requires a strong moral principle to prevent me from deliberately stepping into the street, and methodically knocking people's hats off - then, I account it high time to get to sea as soon as I can.
Here we offer one of the most sought-after firsts: the first edition of the Rockwell Kent-illustrated Moby Dick, by Herman Melville, published by Random House, New York, in 1930. This book is notable for its art deco styling; its 825 thin but durable pages bound in a neat (5 1/2 x 7 1/2 x 2-inch) size; wide borders around the text; and very distinctive squared-off shape and flat spine. The truly singular binding may be a contributing reason this edition was responsible for bringing this mid-19th century book out of obscurity and placing its author at the top of the pantheon of classic American literature. Please note the whale design on the spine, rather than the subsequent harpoon design. The book comes wrapped in the highest quality facsimile of the first edition dust jacket you can only get here, digitally remastered and printed on coated heavyweight bond. The polymer coating on the paper ensures the brightest colors and sharpest prints, as the ink sits atop the paper rather than being absorbed into the fibers. Also included are scholarly notes on the novel and edition, a 1956 LIFE Magazine article on the art of reading this novel, and copies of original ads and reviews from the 1850's.
Worn boards, especially at the corners and head and foot of the spine (please see pics). Intact, uninscribed endpapers bear a period bookseller's label. Tight and square binding; very clean, bright, and crisp text. The dust jacket comes sleeved in ph-neutral mylar, ready to slip into your collection. 822 pages. Measures approximately 7.5 x 5.5-inches.
This canonical first will make a wonderful addition to your collection or a very thoughtful gift.
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