Available Copies from Independent Booksellers
Herman Melville. Omoo: A Narrative of Adventures in the South Seas. Harper & Brothers, 1847.
Price: US$100.00 + shipping
Condition: Fair
Description: From the library of ABAA bookseller, Tom Nicely. Full leather; boards detached; backstrip missing; title page missing; no publication date found, assumed 1847 edition. Foxing throughout; 389 pages.
Seller: A Squared Books (Don Dewhirst), South Lyon, MI, U.S.A.
Price: US$125.00 + shipping
Description: 389 pp. plus ads. Frontispiece map inserted. 8vo, original cloth; ornamental goldstamped ship on front cover; gilt spine. Fifth edition BAL 13656. Some very light foxing; two old ink names and a small old book label on front endsheet; a few pencil notations that could be erased if desired. Light wear to cloth; tight and sound. Title page in red and black.
Seller: Jeffrey H. Marks, Rare Books, ABAA, Rochester, NY, U.S.A.
Price: US$150.00 + shipping
Description: 389 pp. plus ads. Frontispiece map. 8vo, original cloth; ornamental gold-stamped ship on the front panel and gilt-decorated spine. Later printing: the later printing statement at the center of the title page has been roughly erased and then scribbled over. Light foxing to the text and edges; spine faded; extremities of the spine a bit frayed; light rubbing to the cloth. Title page in red and black.
Seller: Jeffrey H. Marks, Rare Books, ABAA, Rochester, NY, U.S.A.
Price: US$250.00 + shipping
Description: 389 [18, ads] pp. 12mo, publisher's blue cloth; gilt spine. Third edition. Old retailer's ticket on front pastedown; some age-toning to text; binding rubbed and worn at corners, spine and joints.
Seller: Jeffrey H. Marks, Rare Books, ABAA, Rochester, NY, U.S.A.
Price: US$250.00 + shipping
Description: Octavo, [i]-[xvi], [17]-389 pages, advertisements. In Good plus condition. Bound in brown cloth with gilt lettering and gilt stamped decoration. Boards have spine edges chipped off, rubbing to corners exposing boards, small tear on front joint, and mild edge wear and shelf wear. Textblock has light age toning and moderate foxing to pages. Shelved Room A. BAL 13656. 1372616. Special Collections.
Seller: Second Story Books, ABAA, Rockville, MD, U.S.A.
Price: US$275.00 + shipping
Condition: Good
Description: The Third Edition (stated on the title page). 389 pages + 9 page ad for Typee + 9 more pages of Harpers ads. Half title page printed in red. Title page printed in red and black. Bound in original brown boards blindstamped with decorations, with gold ship at sail and gold lettering. Pages good and white, but with persistent foxing. A few small chips to the foot of the spine. Please email with questions or to request photos. If you see a photo beside this listing, please be aware that its an ABE Stock Photo (whatever that is) and not a photo of this book.
Seller: Riverby Books, Fredericksburg, VA, U.S.A.
Price: US$300.00 + shipping
Condition: Good
Description: 8vo, original cloth, extremities a little rubbed and worn, gilt stamping a little dulled by age, half-title, frontispiece, 389pp., publisher's terminal ads. Two signatures a bit sprung. Occasional light foxing, some very light stains. A good+ copy.
Seller: Steve Finer - Rare Books, Greenfield, MA, U.S.A.
Price: US$300.00 + shipping
Description: Third Edition. Frontispiece chart. 389 pp. 1 vols. 8vo. BAL 13656; Wright, I, 1862 Original tan cloth, gilt-decorated spine, upper cover with gilt vignette of ship, marbled endpapers. Small, neat repairs to spine and corners; very attractive copy of Melville's second book Frontispiece chart. 389 pp. 1 vols. 8vo
Seller: James Cummins Bookseller, ABAA, New York, NY, U.S.A.
MELVILLE, Herman. Omoo:; A Narrative of Adventures in the South Seas. Harper, NY, 1847.
Price: US$314.00 + shipping
Description: 12mo, pp. xii, 389, xvi-[xxiv], 8. Map inserted. Brown cloth (worn at extremities of the spine, front hinge loose, former owner's Rockwell Kent bookplate on the end paper, some foxed and stained on a couple of pages. See BAL 13656, Wright I, 1861. Scarce. Melville's title means "rover" in Polynesian and takes up the story at the end of Typee wherein the crew on the whaler Julia mutinies and is taken to Tahiti which is where Melville and the good Doctor Long Ghost explore. Melville's second book.
Seller: Second Life Books, Inc., Lanesborough, MA, U.S.A.
Price: US$450.00 + shipping
Description: Leather spine and corners. Part 1: 196 pages. Moderate wear. Tight binding. Text free of marks. Professional book dealer with storefront since 1999. All orders are processed promptly and carefully packaged.
Seller: 3rd St. Books, Springfield, MO, U.S.A.
Price: US$600.00 + shipping
Description: Tight and clean. There is wear of the top and bottom of the spine with a 3/8" split of the top edge of the spine. The gold designs and lettering remain clear. Minor foxing of the front blank sheets.
Seller: Chester Creek Books, Duluth, MN, U.S.A.
Melville, Herman. OMOO: A NARRATIVE OF ADVENTURES IN THE SOUTH SEAS. Harper & Bros., 1847.
Price: US$650.00 + shipping
Condition: Good
Description: 8vo; 389 pp; First edition, first state, BAL 13656. Bindin is cocked but tight. Boards and spine are slightly scuffed and edge worn. Pages are foxed and slightly wavy.
Seller: GLOVER'S BOOKERY, ABAA, Lexington, KY, U.S.A.
Price: US$975.00 + shipping
Condition: Very Good
Description: Publisher's original brown cloth with marbled endpapers. FIRST AMERICAN EDITION, FIRST PRINTING. Title-page in black and red. Half-title and inserted frontispiece map. 24 pages of terminal advertisements. There is some shelf wear with chipping to the spine ends and a half-inch split at the head of the spine. A touch of fading or discoloration to the cloth. Internally, there is some light scattered foxing, heavier on the flyleaves. A couple of gatherings protrude a bit but the binding is tight. Bookplate of early nineteenth century author and essayist Benjamin A. Heydrick on the front pastedown. BAL 13656. A Very Good copy of Melville's second book.
Seller: Clarel Rare Books, Los Angeles, CA, U.S.A.
Price: US$975.00 + shipping
Condition: Very Good
Description: Hardcover. First American Edition of Melville's second novel. This story is based on Melville's adventures and experiences during his years at sea between 1839-1844. It has been professionally rebacked in handsome dark green leather with gilt titling and elaborate ornaments to spine. The front cover features a gilt ship and embossed decoration. Wear to cloth on edges and corners. Original marbled endpapers. Foxing throughout, but heaviest to first several pages. With frontis map and text illustration. A nice copy of this literary landmark. 389 pages plus two sets of advertisements. LIT/091919.
Seller: The Kelmscott Bookshop, ABAA, Savage, MD, U.S.A.
Price: US$1250.00 + shipping
Description: First American edition. Frontispiece chart. xv, [i], [17]-389, [1]; [xv]-xxiii, [i] (ads); 16 (ads) pp. 1 vols. 8vo. The first American edition of Melville's second novel, in the publisher's cloth binding. BAL 13656 Publisher's brown cloth, gilt-decorated spine, upper cover with gilt vignette of ship, marbled endpapers. Wear to spine ends with closed tear to head of spine, corners worn, light foxing to text throughout Frontispiece chart. xv, [i], [17]-389, [1]; [xv]-xxiii, [i] (ads); 16 (ads) pp. 1 vols. 8vo
Seller: James Cummins Bookseller, ABAA, New York, NY, U.S.A.
Melville, Herman. Omoo: a narrative of adventure in the South Seas. Harper & Bros, New York, 1847.
Price: US$1562.50 + shipping
Description: First American edition, 8vo, pp. xv, [1], [17]-389, [1], [xv]-xxiii (ads), [1], 16 (ads); integral frontispiece map; covers spotted, text lightly foxed as usual, top of spine a little chipped; a good, firm copy in orig. slate blindstamped cloth, gilt ship stamped central on upper cover, gilt-decorated spine. BAL 13656.
Seller: Rulon-Miller Books (ABAA / ILAB), St. Paul, MN, U.S.A.
Price: US$2000.00 + shipping
Description: First American Edition; original cloth; top of the spine a little chipped; small spot on front board and a bit foxed; overall a very good copy. All books described as first editions are first printings unless otherwise noted.
Seller: Peter L. Stern & Co., Inc, Newton, MA, U.S.A.
Melville, Herman. Omoo: A Narrative of Adventures in the South Seas. Harper & Brothers, 1847.
Price: US$2249.99 + shipping
Condition: Very Good
Description: First Edition, First Printing. Published by Harper & Brothers, 1847. Octavo. Publisher's brown cloth stamped in gold. Yellow patterned endpapers. 14 pages of ads in back. Book is very good with a slight spine lean and some chipping to spine ends. Some foxing. Contemporary owner name and date of 1852 on first blank page. A very good copy of Melville's second book and sequel to Typee. 389 pages plus advertisements. 100% positive feedback. 30 day money back guarantee. NEXT DAY SHIPPING! Excellent customer service. Please email with any questions or if you would like a photo. All books packed carefully and ships with free delivery confirmation/tracking. All books come with free bookmarks. Ships from Southampton, New York.
Seller: Southampton Books, Southampton, NY, U.S.A.
Price: US$2250.00 + shipping
Condition: Very Good
Description: New York: Harper & Brothers, 1847. [i]-xv, [17]-389, blank, xvi -xxiii, 16 pp of ads. Sm 8vo. (71/2" by 4 3/4") Original blindstamped cloth, gilt sailing ship vignette on the front board, spine decorated and lettered in gilt, marbled endpapers. Frontispiece map inserted. First American edition. Volume leaning, some rubbing to the cloth, sunning to the spine, mild corner bumps, and wear to the top of the spine with slight loss of material - very good. With the armorial bookplate of Robertson Trowbridge; two early ownership signatures on the front blanks including that of Edward Dodd, likely the American Congressman (1855-1859). The American edition came out about a month after the British edition. Ref: BAL 13656
Seller: Paul Johnson Fine Books, IOBA, Temecula, CA, U.S.A.
Price: US$2895.69 + shipping
Condition: Very Good
Description: This First American Edition appears to be in an original period binding 3/4 leather and marbled boards, the front and rear end-papers and pastedowns have been replaced, original frontis piece map present, pp. [i-ix] x-xii [xiii] xiv-xv [xvi] [17] 18-389 [390: blank] + 10 pages, all pages save last (a blank) carrying publisher's ads , very light foxing to most pages, otherwise book is clean, complete, and tight. OMOO A Narrative of Adventures in the South Seas by HERMAN MELVILLE, NEW YORK: Harper & Brothers Publishers, 1847. [published date: 1847]. Rare First Edition. 8vo. 7.5" x 5.5" inches. (LxB). Two parts in one volume. Pp. Frontispiece map and (illustration on p. 104), [i-ix] x-xii [xiii] xiv-xv [xvi] [17] 18-196, (2ff blank), 197-389 [390: blank] + [xv], xvi-xxiii publisher's ads, title page printed in red and black. Original contemporary 19th c. 3/4 black calf leather binding over original marbled boards. Spine lettered in gilt. Omoo was based on Melville's experiences in Polynesian Islands, and gained a huge success. HERMAN MELVILLE is best-known for his novels of the sea and his masterpiece MOBY-DICK (1851), a whaling adventure dedicated to Nathaniel Hawthorne. NOTE: AS THIS IS A PERIOD BINDING THERE IS A CHANCE THAT THIS COPY WAS FROM WRAPS AND THEN REBOUND WITH THE 3/4 LEATHER AND MARBLED BOARDS BINDING. I HAVE NOT YET DONE ENOUGH RESEARCH BUT HAVE A FAIR PRICE ON IT AS IF IT WERE THE ORIGINAL HARDBOUND (CLOTH) COPY. OF COURSE IT WOUD PROBABLY BE WORTH MORE IF IT WERE FROM THE 2-PARTS WRAPS WHICH PRECEEDED THE HARDBOUND/CLOTH COPY.
Seller: Barry's Books, San Antonio, TX, U.S.A.
Price: US$3000.00 + shipping
Description: 196 pp. only--Part I only of two Parts. Frontispiece map inserted. 8vo, First American edition in wrappers. BAL 13656. A section of the fore-edge of the front wrapper and the first several dozen pages has been chewed by a rodent to a maximum depth of 1/2," affecting none of the text and just a few tiny pieces of the border rule of the front wrapper. There is a faint and illegible small circular stamp and tiny numerals on the front wrapper, and some light foxing and dampstaining. Several chips to the backstrip. Rare in wrappers. Title page in red and black.
Seller: Jeffrey H. Marks, Rare Books, ABAA, Rochester, NY, U.S.A.
Price: US$3250.00 + shipping
Description: 12mo, pp. [i-ix] x-xii [xiii] xiv-xv [xvi] [17] 18-389 [390: blank] + 10 pages, all pages save last (a blank) carrying publisher's ads + 16 pages of additional ads paged [1]-16 [note: leaf preceding half title is a blank]; double flyleaves at front and rear, inserted frontispiece map, one illustration in the text, title page printed in red and black, original decorated brown cloth, front panel stamped in gold and blind, spine panel stamped in gold, rear panel stamped in blind, marbled endpapers. First U.S. edition. Melville's second book, preceded by TYPEE (1846). "Melville began by writing adventure stories, not fantastic, but exotic, vivid, and immensely popular. TYPEE and OMOO are daydream books, and, as C. S. Lewis pointed out, people want their daydreams to have the appearance of possibility, no matter how far above the reality of their lives those dreams might be. The burning central question in early reviews of TYPEE was whether its events had indeed transpired as Melville said they did. After two such books, Melville grew tired of the limitations of the autobiographical-adventure format. He had begun reading history, philosophy, and literature, and his mind was bursting with speculations that simply could not be fit into another TYPEE. Like Hawthorne, he turned to romance." - Attebery, The Fantasy Tradition in American Literature From Irving to Le Guin, pp. 51-2. BAL 13656. Wright (I) 1861. Private owner's bookplate affixed to verso of front free endpaper. Very shallow chipping to cloth at bottom spine end, lower corner tips a bit worn, some scattered foxing in text, tape residue on first flyleaf, a tight, very good copy with clean binding and bright cover stamping. (#100280)
Seller: Currey, L.W. Inc. ABAA/ILAB, Elizabethtown, NY, U.S.A.
Melville, Herman. Omoo.. Harper & Brothers, Publishers, New York, 1847.
Price: US$4000.00 + shipping
Description: First edition of this classic Melville work. Octavo, original cloth. In very good condition. Housed in a custom half morocco chemise slipcase. BAL 13656. A sharp example. Following the commercial and critical success of Typee, Herman Melville continued his series of South Sea adventure-romances with Omoo. Named after the Polynesian term for a rover, or someone who roams from island to island, Omoo chronicles the tumultuous events aboard a South Sea whaling vessel and is based on Melvilleâs personal experiences as a crew member on a ship sailing the Pacific. From recruiting among the natives for sailors to handling deserters and even mutiny, Melville gives a first-person account of life as a sailor during the nineteenth century filled with colorful characters and vivid descriptions of the far-flung locales of Polynesia.
Seller: Raptis Rare Books, Palm Beach, FL, U.S.A.
Price: US$5000.00 + shipping
Description: First American Edition; published in London a month earlier. Original cloth; an attractive copy with some foxing and minor wear. Omoo was a sequel to Typee, both based on the author's experiences in the South Seas. All books described as first editions are first printings unless otherwise noted.
Seller: Peter L. Stern & Co., Inc, Newton, MA, U.S.A.
Melville, Herman. Omoo.. Harper & Brothers, Publishers, New York, 1847.
Price: US$17500.00 + shipping
Description: First edition of this classic Melville work Omoo, the Martin-Manney copy in the rare original wrappers. Octavo, two volumes, original wrappers. Volume 1 with half-title, title-page printed in black and red, and frontispiece map of the Marquesas and Tahiti. Volume 2 with advertisements at rear paginated [xv]-xxiii, [1]-16 (light staining to prelims, lower corner clipped from endpaper in volume 2). Original printed wrappers (wrappers darkened and rubbed; part 1 backstrip restored with part of title in facsimile; part 2 with abrasion to rear cover deleting some of the text). Provenance: "Appleton" (ownership inscription to inside front cover of part II) H. Bradley Martin (his sale, Sotheby's New York, 30 January 1990, lot 2145); Richard Manney (his sale, Sotheby's New York, 11 October 1991, lot 223). Housed in a custom clamshell box. Rare with RBH records only two other copies selling at auction. BAL 13656. Following the commercial and critical success of Typee, Herman Melville continued his series of South Sea adventure-romances with Omoo. Named after the Polynesian term for a rover, or someone who roams from island to island, Omoo chronicles the tumultuous events aboard a South Sea whaling vessel and is based on Melvilleâs personal experiences as a crew member on a ship sailing the Pacific. From recruiting among the natives for sailors to handling deserters and even mutiny, Melville gives a first-person account of life as a sailor during the nineteenth century filled with colorful characters and vivid descriptions of the far-flung locales of Polynesia.
Seller: Raptis Rare Books, Palm Beach, FL, U.S.A.