Moby Dick: or The Whale: Deluxe Facsimile Edition

A gorgeous facsimile edition of Herman Melville’s timeless classic Moby Dick, featuring artist Rockwell Kent’s woodcut illustrations and a new foreword by rare books specialist Rebecca Romney. Herman Melville's Moby Dick; Or the Whale was considered a failure after languishing in relative obscurity since its initial publication in 1851. The 1930 Random House edition, illustrated by renowned artist Rockwell Kent, played a pivotal role in cementing the novel’s place in the American literary canon. Today original editions can sell for thousands of dollars, but now for the first time in almost 100 years, this reissue brings the experience of the original edition to a modern audience. With a foreword by rare book dealer and author Rebecca Romney, this reissue features a foil-stamped case with the original dust jacket design and high-quality printing. An heirloom-quality gift for bibliophiles, collectors, students, and any reader interested in classic literature, this edition ensures that Melville’s prose and Kent’s stunning illustrations remain accessible to modern readers for years to come. In an epic tale of obsession and adventure, Moby Dick takes readers on a captivating journey through the depths of the human spirit and the vastness of the sea. Immerse yourself in the mythical world of Captain Ahab as he leads his crew on a relentless pursuit of the elusive white whale, delving into themes of revenge, fate, and the power of nature. With exquisite prose and unforgettable characters like the enigmatic Ishmael and the noble cannibal Queequeg, this classic novel invites you to contemplate the profound depths of existence while experiencing the thrill of a timeless adventure.

Rebecca Romney is a rare book dealer and the cofounder of Type Punch Matrix, a rare book company based in Washington, DC. She was the rare books specialist on the HISTORY Channel’s show Pawn Stars, and in 2019, she was featured in the documentary on the rare book trade, The Booksellers. She is also the author of Jane Austen's Bookshelf. The writing career of Herman Melville (1819–1891) peaked early, with his early novels, such as Typee, becoming bestsellers. By the mid-1850s his poularity declined sharply, and by the time he died he had been largely forgotten. Yet in time his novel Moby Dick came to be regarded as one of the finest works of American, and indeed world, literature, as was Billy Budd, Sailor, which was not published until long after his death, in 1924. Rockwell Kent (1882–1971) was an American painter, printmaker, illustrator, writer, sailor, adventurer and voyager from Tarrytown, New York, and is known as one of America's foremost illustrators. He provided illustrations for numerous famous works such as Moby Dick, Beowulf, Voltaire's Candide, Whitman's Leaves of Grass, The Canterbury Tales, The Complete Works of Shakespeare, and many more.