Moby Dick

Okay, the Limited Edition Moby Dick, might be the most beautiful book I've ever seen. But I don't have the money for it, period. The cheapest I've seen it is $750, and that just isn't happening.

So... what about other editions? There is a 1998 (I think), but I can't find any pictures of the illustrations. Can anyone provide information? What about non-Folio editions? This is one of my favorite novels, and I'd love a nice copy, but I haven't found on that satisfies me yet.

You're right, the Folio LE is an absolutely gorgeous book. I'm sorry you missed out on it when it was still in print.

A nearly identical alternative with Rockwell Kent's famous woodcuts is the single-volume Moby Dick seen here, published by Random House but printed by the eminent Lakeside Press here in Chicago. Lakeside Press was the original publisher of Rockwell Kent's edition of Moby Dick. True, the Folio cover is a different image and it's leather, compared to Random House's cloth, but the printing quality of the Random House is arguably even better being monotype (meaning it was hot-metal stamped into the page instead of offset like the Folio). I'd like to own a fine copy of it one day to place alongside my Folio Limited Edition. This copy here is in great condition and even comes with a facsimile of the original dust jacket for $325 - cheaper than the FS LE (when it was in print) by about $70. Not bad!

That would be my recommendation for an edition as beautiful as the Folio Society LE but at half the current secondhand price. Granted, you miss out on the Commentary volume, but you can find plenty of notes on Moby Dick in other editions, like the Norton, or the Penguin Classics.

I'm quite fond of this one:

http://www.amazon.com/Reprint-Melville-published-University-California/dp/B00E29...

though I understand that some prefer the Kent volume mentioned by britchey. I love the typeface of the Arion/California volume.

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I quite agree with coynedj. The University of California edition is a very affordable variation of The Arion Press book. It's part of my Moby-Dick collection.

That is a nice looking edition. I have a pretty decent paperback. Really looking for a good hardback.

5: Easton Press reprinted the Limited Editions Club version with illustrations by Boardman Robinson. While the LEC version is hundreds of dollars (even in poor condition), the EP version can be purchased for around $20. It's not as large nor as impressive as the LEC, Lakeside Press, Arion Press, nor FS reproduction, but all that said, for the price I think it's fantastic. Here is one copy

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Moby-Dick-Easton-Press-by-Herman-Melville-Leather-Bound-...

>6 astropi: In fact, for many years, the EP Moby Dick was a $5 premium to start one's EP subscription. As a result, this volume is very common and can be found very cheaply even in great condition.

>6 astropi: That is splendid. Thank you. One of those shall be making its way to my door shortly.

> 5 - It is available in hardback, and that's what I have.

>9 coynedj:. I see now. What a beautiful book. Is there a chance you could post a picture of or at least describe the cover without the dust jacket? I'm having a hard time finding an image.

> 10 - I'll give it a shot once I get home from work.

Oh No - I forgot to take a picture of the binding. Well, I guess I'll have to write myself a note this time - maybe that will help.

>12 coynedj: I understand, believe me. Thanks for your help!

For what it's worth, here's a video presentation of the EP Moby Dick...

http://youtu.be/OkkfRK1kHcE

14: starts off great, but it would have been nice if he had actually showed some of the artwork and more of the book. At any rate, as I said before, I think the price to quality ratio is fantastic.

OK - let's see if I get these photos to show up:









The unadorned cover is quite nondescript - pretty much a standard commercial hardcover, nothing to make the FADdict's heart beat fast. It is what is found within that makes this a special edition, to me.

The u of cal facsimile of the Arion Moby is an excellent edition, a reasonably affordable copy of one of the greatest fine press works of the last 100 years, that being the Arion Press Moby. Sorry to sound blunt, but the EP, which is a much less well done copy of the LEC Moby, does not come close, I mean nowhere close. The illustrations by moser in the Arion are legendary, though I like Robinson's work for the LEC, again it is no where near the same level. Having said all of that, if someone wants a decent $30-40 copy, nothing wrong with the EP.

>17 coynedj: coynedj, are the pages really that yellow or is that an artifact of the photo?

>18 busywine: It's pretty easy to pick up the EP edition for $15 since lots of us bought it for $5. I actually like the EP edition though I prefer the Rockwell Kent illustrations in the FS LE not to mention the great binding and silver gilding. Since I'll never be able to afford the AP edition I would like to pick up the Cal edition with Moser's illustrations which I like almost as much as Rockwell Kent's work.

I'm afraid I don't think any of these very nice books are a patch on the Moby Dick pinnacle of excellence (ie. the FS LE) due to its tactile sensuality, visual impact and olfactory essence . Sorry.

> 19 - It's an artifact of my photography skills (or, to be more accurate, lack thereof). The pages are crisp and white, as is the paper cover.

>17 coynedj: That is gorgeous. Thanks for the pictures. Makes my decision easy. Taxes will be back soon and then there will be much book buying.

18: Having held the Arion Press Moby Dick (my University has it), as well as the Lakeside Press edition (again, the University), I can say that those two editions are certainly in a different league than the Easton Press edition. Of course, the Arion Press edition will costly roughly 1000+ times the Easton Press edition (yes, 1000)! Even the LEC Moby in poor condition will be hundreds of dollars. I think for the price to quality ratio you get an amazing deal with the Easton Press edition, and I'm very happy with my copy. Plus, I love the cover, which is extremely well done.

20: Is that a joke? The FS Moby is just a reprint of the Lakeside Edition. It's a nice facsimile, but does not compare to the original.

>23 astropi:, agree with you on all of this, although the Univ of Cal facsimile of the Arion edition is one outstanding facsimile. Like their facsimile of the Allen Press Biblio, it is an excellent work in itself (talking about the limited edition of the UofCal reprint, not the trade edition). I have the FS LE of Moby and it is a wonderful LE, but IMO the Univ of Cal limited Moby Dick is certainly nicer in terms of paper and type/illustration reproduction. Of course, the FS LE is better quality wise than the trade UofCal edition. And yes, the Lakeside is another world, as is the original Arion! So many choices, unfortunately, most uber expensive. For what the person was looking for (inexpensive), I think the EP or UofCal trade edition are both nice to have. If one wants to spend in the upper hundreds, then UofCl Limited or FS LE come into play. If one is a zillionaire, then the original Lakeside or Arion.

>23 astropi:
OK, I see what you mean, but the Lakeside edition at $5000 to $10,000, is out of almost everyone's league, and being published 80 years ago it will have gained patina (and probably damage at the cheaper ed of the price range), but lost that beautiful smell and barely touched feel of my FS LE.
The Arion Press edition at $21,000 to $25,000 - well words fail me.

1.

May I recommend unreservedly the volume published by the Library of America. Not just that work but two others to boot in the same volume.
http://www.loa.org/volume.jsp?RequestID=102

>26 LesMiserables:, nice set!

> Coynedj

Just wondering if that is the 1981 hardback edition and if it is woven bound or glued?

Cheers.

d.

I'll check when I get home. Though, given my performance last time I said "when I get home", it could be some time.

This may ease the stress on coynedj:

Editions:

9780520043541 (cloth) 1979
9780520045484 (paperback) 1983

The hardback is wound

Since 1979 there have been at least 7 printings, and 5 printings since 1983 for the paperback edition.

I have the 1981 hardback edition, Library of Congress 81-40320

Anything that eases my stress level is welcome - thank you.

My copy of the UC Moby-Dick arrived today. Quite nice. In excellent condition, especially considering I snagged it used for less than $20.

>32 Jason461:

I just got a copy of the UC Moby Dick (hardcover, new condition) for over 3 times what Jason461 apparently paid, but I'm still very satisfied with the purchase. My copy shows no signs of age, and the binding, paper, and ink are all of top quality. And, of course, the illustrations are ridiculously good.

Fwiw, keep in mind the univ of cal produced a deluxe edition and a standard trade edition. The deluxe is limited to 750 copies, is larger, more painstakingly done and so nicer quality and closer approximation to the Arion, is much larger and also uses blue ink besides black, like the original. I believe it usually runs around 600-1000 dollars on the secondary market. The the standard trade comes in hardback or softcover, and is the most affordable of the lot.

Deleted

This is the masterfully rebound LEC Moby Dick of the late Don Floyd, known on LT as leccol.

The Binder of my Moby Dick was Sam Ellenport who is now retired and on the lecture circuit. When working, he owned Harcourt Bindery in Boston.

Sam did do a masterful job. Like most Moby Dick copies, mine was almost totally deteriorated and both spines were missing. The cost of the original book was only $175 plus media mail shipping.

I selected all materials and Sam did most of the work, including the new slipcase. The book is bound in 1/2 Harmatan Nigerian goatskin with boards and end pages from the Ann Muir collection of marbled papers.

The marbling of the page ends was done by Chena River Marblers.

...

Truly beautiful.

I have a very nice edition from Heritage Press. It is slipped cased and illustrated and based on a Limited Editions Club publication. The print is 12 point Janson, large and easy to read. Eight of the illustrations are in color.
http://www.librarything.com/work/15540

Not unexpectedly, I agree with busywine's comments:

>18 busywine:
>24 busywine:
>34 busywine:

My pecking order for collecting a nice fine press or private press edition of Moby Dick is as follows. Note that the edition in >17 coynedj: is a trade edition - NOT fine or private press - although it is a wonderful and inexpensive way to read Moby Dick. That said:

Top Tier: The Arion Press and Riverside Press (Rockwell Kent illustrations) editions.

2nd Tier: The Univ. of California LE Facsimile of the Arion Press edition (edition of 750 copies)
The FS Limited Edition with R. Kent illustrations

3rd Tier: The Artist's Limited Edition (LeRoy Neiman illustrations)
The 1930 Random House trade edition (high quality small book with R. Kent illustrations).

Trade Edition: the Univ. of California trade edition facsimile of the Arion Press book. Note that this book
is MUCH smaller than the Arion Press original whereas the U. of Calif. LE facsimile is nearly as large as the original ( ~ 95% of the original size).