Available Copies from Independent Booksellers
[Kittredge, William]; Kent, Rockwell. N by E.. Random House, New York, 1930.
Price: US$850.00 + shipping
Condition: Near Fine
Description: First edition, signed limited issue. A stunning presentation copy, inscribed by Rockwell Kent to William Kittredge, the director of design and typography at The Lakeside Press. Kittredge commissioned Kent to design and illustrate the iconic three-volume aluminum slip-cased 1930 Lakeside Press edition of Moby Dick, which was hailed as a triumph of Machine Age book design. Kittredge's bookplate (rather well designed, of course) on front paste down, and his business card laid in, chipped at one corner. First edition. Number 560 of a limited 900 copies signed by Kent at rear. Bound in publisher's light blue cloth with elaborate silver stamping to front cover and spine, in blue paper covered slip case with matching limitation number on title label on spine. Near Fine with light fading to spine and light general wear to slipcase.
Seller: Burnside Rare Books, ABAA, Portland, OR, U.S.A.
Herman Melville. Moby Dick or the Whale. Random House, New York, 1930.
Price: US$1400.00 + shipping
Condition: Very Good
Description: Very Good++/no dust jacket. Black cloth with silver lettering and designs, First Trade edition. Signed by Rockwell Kent on the free front endpaper. Light staining and browning to page ends. Light bumping to corners on head. Moderate edgewear. A very nice copy of this classic book.
Seller: Blue Moon Books, Stevens Point, WI, U.S.A.
Melville, Herman; Illustrated by Rockwell Kent. Moby Dick.. Random House, New York, 1930.
Price: US$2500.00 + shipping
Description: First edition of Rockwell Kent's profusely illustrated edition of the great American novel. Octavo, original black cloth decorated in gilt, illustrated throughout by Rockwell Kent. Presentation copy, inscribed by the author on the front free endpaper, "For Ann Busby by Rockwell Kent." In very good condition. A bright example. Initially panned by critics and readers when published in 1851, "in the 20th century Moby Dick would be rediscovered and acknowledged as possibly the greatest of all American novels" (Chronology of American Literature). The artist Rockwell Kent did more than provide the illustrations for this landmark editionhe designed the entire book. "His energy, many-sided activities and preoccupation with integrated book design made him one of the best known American illustrators of his time" (Harthan, 247).
Seller: Raptis Rare Books, Palm Beach, FL, U.S.A.