The Works of Herman Melville; Standard Edition

Melville, Herman

Published by Constable and Company, Ltd., London, 1922

About this Item

-1924. The first collected edition of Melville's works. In the publisher's original blue cloth with purple-coated endpapers. Top edges gilt. Complete in 16 Volumes, as follows: I. Typee; II. Omoo; III Mardi (volume one); IV. Mardi (volume two); V. Redburn; VI. White-Jacket; VII. Moby-Dick (volume one); VIII. Moby-Dick (volume two); IX. Pierre; X. Israel Potter; XI. Piazza Tales; XII. Confidence Man; XIII. Billy Budd and Other Prose Pieces; XIV. Clarel (volume one); XV. Clarel (volume two); XVI. Poems. Number 535 of 750 sets, signed and numbered on the limitation page in Volume One. With scarce original DUSTJACKETS on Volumes II, XIII, XIV, XV, and XVI, being the first appearance in print of "Billy Budd," and only the second printing of Melville's epic poem "Clarel." Some spines are faded more than others, as is typically the case with this set. There is some spotting to the spine, with some wear at the foot and and dulling to the gilt of Volume XIII (Billy Budd). All five dust jackets have some chipping with loss to the spine ends. The Constable set was originally planned as twelve volumes, collecting all the prose published by Melville in his lifetime. The first eight volumes came out in the fall of 1922. Four more volumes appeared in March of the following year (with title-pages dated 1923). It was then decided to extend the set to include Melville's poetry and uncollected prose. A final four volumes appeared in April of 1924 (with title-pages dated 1924), containing much material that had never before been published. Volume XVI, Poems, prints many small pieces for the first time. A Very Good set, rarely found with any complete dustjackets, especially on the more significant volumes. BAL 13680.

Seller Inventory # 000236

Bibliographic Details

• Title: The Works of Herman Melville; Standard Edition
• Publisher: Constable and Company, Ltd., London
• Publication Date: 1922
• Binding: Publisher's cloth
• Condition: Very Good