Redburn: His First Voyage. Being the Sailor-boy Confessions and Reminiscences of the on-of-a-Gentleman, in the Merchant Service.
New York: Harper & Brothers, 1849. First American edition, 2nd printing. Hardcover book. Melville's fourth book, and loosely autobiographical. A sea journal and coming of age tale with innocence lost by poverty and corruption. He alludes to the death of his father and his own humiliations due to financial distress and being bullied as he worked as a cabin boy aboard a ship.
8vo, xi, [13]- 390, followed by [18] pages of publisher's ads dated "October, 1849"[ with irregular pagination but complete: 4pp unnumbered describing Melville's books Typee, Mardi, Omoo & Lyell's "Second Visit to the United States"], [1]-11, 14 (no page 12/13, printer's error) [2 "Standard Illustrated Works..."]. Yellow endpapers with black marking, lacking the first ffep. Maroon embossed cloth, spine sunned, spine tips chipped, corners rubbed. Some slt. foxing and semicircular stain in upper margin. An early owner has recorded the book's price over time. In May 1928, Dauber and Pine had it for $25; Another bookseller in 1929, $55; C Johnson in 1932, $65. Wright 1, 1865; BAL 13660 lists this as a 2nd printing, binding A. This designation as a 2nd printing is contested. Binding tight. Good. Item #29253
Price: $500.00