Details
MELVILLE, Herman (1819-1891). Typee: a Peep at Polynesian Life. New York: Wiley and Putnam, 1846.

First American edition, in cloth, BAL's A binding. A previous reader has pencilled a rather biting review to the last page, in part commenting that the book was written by “some tolerably smart Yankee who had made a voyage to these Islands been once or twice ashore—returns home and hashes up a book to sell… you are about as wise before its perusal as afterwards.” BAL 13653, binding variant A with “Library of American Books” in gilt on spine.

Octavo, two volumes bound in one. Half-titles, frontispiece map, 4 pp. of ads at rear numbered v-viii (spotting internally, mostly marginal dampstain just touching text for a couple pages). Original blue cloth stamped in gilt (3-inch repair to spine along rear joint and lengthwise under “Library of American Books,” loss to spine ends, some general rubbing and wear otherwise). Custom chemise and quarter morocco slipcase. Provenance: previous reader’s pencilled review to final page.

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