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Details
MELVILLE, Herman. White-Jacket; or The World in a Man-of-War. London: Richard Bentley, 1853.
2 volumes bound in one, 8o. Original blind-blocked red cloth, gilt-lettered on spine, yellow endpapers (hinges slightly cracked); red quarter morocco slipcase. Provenance: John Turner (bookplate).
FIRST EDITION, second issue in the very scarce remainder binding: two volumes bound in one by the publisher from their 1850 first edition sheets, with new title pages. An underappreciated narrative of life in the U.S. Navy which Melville considered a "job for money." However, the novel has many merits and within it can be found precursors to both Moby-Dick and Billy Budd. The depiction of punishment aboard ship prompted Congress to abolish flogging several months after publication. A fragile publication, with copies in the original cloth binding very scarce on the market. According to American Book Prices Current, the last unrestored copy of the remainder issue in cloth to appear at auction was the Prescott copy, sold Christie's New York, 6 February 1981. BAL 13661.
2 volumes bound in one, 8o. Original blind-blocked red cloth, gilt-lettered on spine, yellow endpapers (hinges slightly cracked); red quarter morocco slipcase. Provenance: John Turner (bookplate).
FIRST EDITION, second issue in the very scarce remainder binding: two volumes bound in one by the publisher from their 1850 first edition sheets, with new title pages. An underappreciated narrative of life in the U.S. Navy which Melville considered a "job for money." However, the novel has many merits and within it can be found precursors to both Moby-Dick and Billy Budd. The depiction of punishment aboard ship prompted Congress to abolish flogging several months after publication. A fragile publication, with copies in the original cloth binding very scarce on the market. According to American Book Prices Current, the last unrestored copy of the remainder issue in cloth to appear at auction was the Prescott copy, sold Christie's New York, 6 February 1981. BAL 13661.