Franklin Center: Franklin Library, 1980. Leather bound. Complete two volume set. New and unread. Fine flawless condition. Bound in full leather, gilt edges, moire endpapers, silk ribbon bookmarkers.

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: Kubik Fine Books Ltd, ABAA (US)
Bookseller's Inventory #: 1249210
Title: MOBY-DICK or The Whale: Volumes 1-2
Author: Herman Melville
Format/Binding: Leather bound
Book Condition: Used
Quantity Available: 1
Publisher: Franklin Library
Place of Publication: Franklin Center
Date Published: 1980
Note: May be a multi-volume set and require additional postage.

Terms of Sale

Kubik Fine Books Ltd, ABAA

Shipping within the USA: Standard shipping is $6.00 for the first book and delivery is via US Media Mail. Delivery usually takes 1-2 weeks. Expedited shipping is $12.00 and is by either priority Mail or UPS. Delivery is within 2-6 business days and includes tracking and insurance. Orders of multi-volume sets and unusually heavy books may incur additional charges. You will be notified before the order is processed. Sales tax of 7.50% is added to shipments within Ohio. Payment is accepted by check, major credit card, or paypal. Items may be returned within 10 days of receipt with advance notification; the cost to return items is your responsibility and s/h charges are non-refundable. Books are graded according to the condition terms described on our tutorial at http://www.kubikbooks.com/tutorial.html. Shipments Outside the USA are delivered via air mail; rates begin at $25 per book and vary by size/weight.

About the Seller

Kubik Fine Books Ltd, ABAA

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Dayton, Ohio

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About Kubik Fine Books Ltd, ABAA

Store located at 24 Park Avenue in Dayton, Ohio. Open Monday-Friday 10am-4:30pm and on Saturdays by chance/appt. We have over 50,000 books of all types - specialities include Roman Catholic theology and culture, military history, ancient and medieval studies, and general rare books in all fields. Company president Owen D. Kubik has been a full-time bookseller for over 35 years.

Glossary

Glossary

Some terminology that may be used in this description includes:

Fine: A book in fine condition exhibits no flaws. A fine condition book closely approaches As New condition, but may lack the...
Edges: The collective of the top, fore and bottom edges of the text block of the book, being that part of the edges of the pages of a...
Gilt: The decorative application of gold or gold coloring to a portion of a book on the spine, edges of the text block, or an inlay in...
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"...