BEIN Za M497 851b Copy 1: First binding with blue grey cloth, orange endpapers. Autograph of Warren E. Freeman, Sept. 4, 1918.

BEIN Za M497 851b Copy 2: First binding with drab purple-brown cloth and rust endpapers. Bookplate of Carl Van Vechten.

BEIN Za M497 851b Copy 3: First binding with black cloth, marbled endpapers. Presentation inscription to Suydain Reese from Uncle Lydig?, Jany. 1, 1852.

BEIN Za M497 851b Copy 4: Third binding with dark brown cloth, yellow endpapers. Stamp of W.H. Randall.

BEIN Za M497 851b Copy 5: First binding with green gray cloth, orange endpapers. Autograph of ?? Rogers.

BEIN Tinker 1545: First binding with blue green cloth, red marbled endpapers. Autographs of O.W. Wharton, 1851 and A. Edward Newton.

First American edition. This edition includes an epilogue that explains Ishmael's survival of the shipwreck that was not present in the original London edition, which was published earlier in 1851 under the shorter title The whale.

"Entered according to act of Congress, in the year 1851, by Herman Melville, in the clerk's office of the district court for the Southern District of New York"--Title page verso.

"In admiration for his genius, this book is inscribed to Nathaniel Hawthorne"--page iii.

Three bindings noted. The first has covers blindstamped with a rule frame and publisher's circular device in center. The second has covers blindstamped with the rule but no publisher's device. The third binding has covers blindstamped with a frame of rules, beads and a braidlike rule, and no publisher's device. The first and second bindings appear in a variety of colored cloths and endpapers. The third binding has been seen only in brown cloth and yellow endpapers. See the Bibliography of American literature.

Advertisements on 6 unnumbered pages at end.

BEIN Tinker 1545: Restricted. Permission of curator needed for use.

BEIN Za M497 851b Copies 1-5: Restricted. Permission of curator needed for use.

Blanck, J. Bibliography of American literature, 13664

Tinker Library, 1545

Ishmael (Fictitious character) > Fiction.

Ahab, Captain (Fictitious character) > Fiction.

Male friendship > Fiction.

Revenge > Fiction.

Whaling ships > Fiction.

Ship captains > Fiction.

Whaling > Fiction.

Whales > Fiction.