Moby Dick.

MELVILLE, Herman; Illustrated by Rockwell Kent.

Item Number: 141408

New York: Random House, 1930.

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 edition—he 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).