TITLE: Moby-Dick or the Whale
AUTHOR: Herman Melville with illustrations by Rockwell Kent
PUBLISHER: The Folio Society
PLACE: London
YEAR: 2009
EDITION: Fifth printing
NUMBERED: Limited edition of 1750 copies, of which this is number 514, numbered in ink by hand
NO.OF PAGES: xxxii + 734 with approximately 280 black-and-white illustrations by Rockwell Kent. The textbook comes with 312 pages.
BINDING: Bound in full Wright's Smooth Grain black leather, blocked with a white whale design by Rockwell Kent, in white and silver; housed in a black clamshell with the title in silver on spine.
Also includes: "Moby-Dick, A Commentary" by Harold Beaver. Bound in original black buckram, with silver titles on the front with 312 pages. Typeset in Fournier font at the Folio Society and Printed on Abbey Wove Paper by Memminger Mediencentrum in Germany.
SIZE [WITH SLIPCASE]:
Height: 27 cm
Width: 20.5 cm
Depth: 10.8 cm
FINE PRESENTATION COPY OF WHAT IS REGARDED BY MANY AS THE GREATEST AMERICAN NOVEL
Herman Melville's tale of the hunt for the white whale, "Moby-Dick" is a sublime work of the imagination, an American Odyssey. It is at once an adventure story of the high seas and an exploration of the uncharted regions of the soul.
This fifth folio edition retains the spelling and punctuation of the original text, with some minor emendations. First published by The Folio Society in 1974.
Considered to be a masterpiece, this timeless and outstanding work of Romanticism and the American Renaissance has been read by generations. Ishmael narrates the monomaniacal quest of Ahab, captain of the whaler Pequod, for revenge on Moby Dick, a white whale which on a previous voyage destroyed Ahab's ship and severed his leg at the knee.
Although the novel was a commercial failure and out of print at the time of the author's death in 1891, its reputation as a Great American Novel grew during the twentieth century. William Faulkner confessed he wished he had written it himself, and D H Lawrence called it "one of the strangest and most wonderful books in the world", and "the greatest book of the sea ever written". "Call me Ishmael" is one of world literature's most famous opening sentences.
The product of a year and a half of writing, the book is dedicated to Nathaniel Hawthorne, "in token of my admiration for his genius", and draws on Melville's experience at sea, on his reading in whaling literature, and on literary inspirations such as Shakespeare and the Bible.
CONDITION:
This lot will be sold in "as is" condition.
There may be some minor tears/creases scratches, or holes commensurate with age that may not be visible in the images.
.br.The books on sale in this auction are rare, out-of-print and otherwise collectable, dating from the 19th century onwards. The technology and material for printing and binding books have evolved over the last few centuries. From being the exclusive preserve of Clergy and Kings to an item of everyday application, the availability and use of books have also evolved over time. Books age over time and deterioration in a book's condition depends on many factors, including the original materials used and conditions of usage over time. Books will often show signs of foxing, fading, shelf-ware or dust jacket damage through usage. Prolonged storage may also cause wormhole damage or water stains.
The absence of a condition statement does not imply that the lot is in perfect condition or completely free from wear and tear, imperfections or the effects of ageing. Condition requests can be obtained via email. Any condition statement given, as a courtesy to a client, is only an opinion and should not be treated as a statement of fact. Storyltd shall have no responsibility for any error or omission.