MELVILLE, HERMAN. Moby-Dick; or, the Whale. New York: Harper, 1851. 8vo, original brown cloth, sides blindstamped with publisher's circular device at center, dark orange (salmon) coated endpapers, repairs to ends of spine and outer joints, rear outer joint and fore-corners worn, green half morocco slipcase. FIRST AMERICAN EDITION, following the English edition (The Whale) by a month and with some thirty-five passages not present in the English. BAL 13664; Grolier American 60; Hill, p.197. The text is virtually free of the usual foxing. Original ownership inscription of "Tho. F. Wells. Roxbury 1851" on dedication page and front free endpaper.