Melville, Herman | The first edition, Doheny copy

Property from the Workman Collection

Melville, Herman

Pierre; or, The Ambiguities. New York: Harper & Brothers, 1852

8vo Publisher's blindstamped purple-blue cloth, spine lettered in gilt, white endpapers; spine ends a little rubbed with a tiny loss to cloth at head, two leaves carelessly opened, but very tight and unfoxed, a superior example. Half morocco folding case. 

First edition. The Doheny copy. Pierre was not a financial success, although it was reprinted in 1855. A good portion of the first edition was consumed in the 1853 Harper & Brothers fire.

REFERENCE:

BAL 13666

PROVENANCE:

Estelle Doheny (morocco book label; her sale, Christie's New York, 18 October 1988, lot 1478)