MOBY DICK
The legendary Lakeside Press limited edition — among the greatest illustrated interpretations of a great American novel, a key publication in the Melville Revival, and Kent's spellbinding masterpiece.
Overall near fine.
Price: $16,000.00
MOBY DICK
"Melville's death in 1891 had passed almost unnoticed. It might be said, without too much exaggeration, that Rockwell Kent brought him back to life." — Constance Martin
A fine balance of philosophy and comedy like DON QUIXOTE but with epic Miltonic undertones, MOBY DICK (1851) was not only Melville's most ambitious work to date, but became one of his biggest flops. By his death in 1891, the book was out of print, and would have to wait until the 1920s for a critical resurrection, one solidified in no small part by this edition. Approached in 1926 by Lakeside Press to illustrate a classic of American literature, Kent gladly accepted the commission, but insisted upon MOBY DICK as his subject. The book became a four-year obsession, in which Kent strove to match both Melville's transcendent heights and ordinary elegances. The most striking images are of the White Whale: sublime, alien, cosmic. Kent's mystic vision of MOBY DICK has shaped our approach to the work ever since. A modern monument.
Read more: Constance Martin, "Rockwell Kent's Distant Shores: The Story of an Exhibition," Arctic, March 2002; Benton, Beauty and the Book.
The Object
First edition thus. Chicago: The Lakeside Press, 1930. Full title: Moby Dick: Or The Whale. Three volumes, 11.5'' x 8.25'' each. Original black cloth stamped in silver with Kent-designed titles and images. Black topstains, other edges uncut and largely unopened. In original acetate jackets with paper flaps and original aluminum slipcase. Illustrated by Kent with 280 images. xxvii, 279, [1]; viii, 284; viii, 282, [8] pages. Limited to 1000 copies. Bookplates to front pastedowns. Moderate rubbing to slipcase. Spine of vol. I acetate perished, vol. II acetate split at spine, some rippling and a few closed tears as typical. Cloth sharp. Interiors a trifle musty but crisp and clean. Tight. Scarce with slipcase and all acetates.
The Fine Print
We work hard to meet our ethical responsibility to describe our material accurately. All items are guaranteed as described and may be returned for any reason within 30 days. Please notify us before mailing a return.
We guarantee the authenticity of our items. All materials are original (meaning not facsimiles or reproductions) unless otherwise noted. First editions (meaning first edition, first printing) are explicitly stated. TPM is a member of the Antiquarian Booksellers Association of America and upholds their Code of Ethics.
All photographs are of the actual item for sale. We're happy to provide additional images on request.
All domestic orders ship gratis. For orders under $250, free USPS media mail shipping is included; orders $250 and over ship USPS Ground Advantage. International orders over $1000 also ship gratis. Expedited, overnight, as well as other carriers (UPS, Fed-Ex, etc.), may carry additional costs beyond quoted rates. All orders receive tracking information and a direct contact in case of any questions.
International buyers are responsible for any customs, taxes, and related import fees. Please note that we are unable to accomodate requests to misrepresent, misdeclare, or otherwise falsify customs documents when shipping internationally. We appreciate your understanding.
We accept all major credit cards, Paypal, Venmo, check, money order, and bank wire. We are happy to bill institutional buyers' needs. Sales tax will be added to applicable purchases. Items subject to prior sale.
If for any reason you are dissatisfied with your purchase, please contact us. We prioritize our long-term relationships far above any individual purchase, and we want you to love your item as much as we loved cataloguing it.





