Bibliography of the First Editions of the Prose Works of Herman Melville.

SADLEIR, Michael.

Published by [London:] [Constable and Company Ltd,] [1923]

About this Item

First separate edition, sole printing, number 15 of 20 copies off-printed for the author. The publication and letter provide an insight into the collecting habits of this significant collector and comprise rare ephemera relating to Herman Melville bibliography. We can trace only one copy in a research library in the UK and four copies in the US. Michael Sadleir (1888-1957) was a novelist, publisher, book collector and bibliographer who described himself as a "bibliomaniac". His monumental XIX Century Fiction, subtitled "A Bibliographical Record based on his own collection" was published in 1951 and the collection is now at the University of California. This copy of his Melville bibliography is inscribed "to Mr W. Fagg for helping me to a copy of Trollope's Macdermots. Michael Sadleir. March 1923" and the letter explains Sadleir's gratitude to the bookseller W. Fagg (of Crystal Palace, London) who bought a copy of Trollope's Macdermots of Ballycloran together with "Mr. Joseph" (presumably E. Joseph) and handed it over to Sadleir "at a modest profit". Item 3203 in Sadleir's XIX Century Fiction comprises a first American edition of Trollope's novel. The typed letter notes that the bibliography of Melville "was prepared for inclusion in the twelfth volume of Constable's Standard Edition, and of which I had a few copies wrappered separately for presentation". Octavo. Original blue wrappers with printed label on front wrapper in blue, limitation slip tipped-in to title page. Together with a typed letter signed from Michael Sadleir to a bookseller, 1 leaf (207 x 162mm), headed notepaper ("10 & 12 Orange Street, Leicester Square, London, WC2"). Wrappers lightly soiled with some fading to rear wrapper and slightly frayed at extremities, some light soiling to leaves and minor splitting at internal hinges; else a good copy. Small tear to crease of typed letter. Seller Inventory # 150482

Bibliographic Details

Title: Bibliography of the First Editions of the ...

Publisher: [London:] [Constable and Company Ltd,] [1923]

Signed: Signed by Author(s)

Edition: 1st Edition