Dana, Richard Henry

Two Years Before the Mast: A Personal Narrative of Life at Sea.  New York: Harper & Brothers, 1840

12mo (6 x 4 in.; 153 x 100 mm). Minor dampstaining in lower gutter of text beginning on p. 407 through conclusion on p. 483. Tan muslin, printed in black on both covers and spine (BAL binding B.1); minor dampstaining along spine. Red cloth folding-case, red morocco spine lettered gilt.

Charles A. Hamilton of Worcester, Massachusetts (bookplate). Acquisition: William Reese

BAL 4434; Grolier, American 46

12mo (6 x 4 in.; 153 x 100 mm). Tan muslin, printed in black on both covers and spine (BAL binding B.1). Red cloth folding case, red morocco spine lettered gilt.
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First edition, first issue of the author's first book.As noted by blanck, "it has been asserted, and generally accepted, that there were two printings dated 1840." The first of these is identified by the presence of the dot over the "i" in the word "in" within the first line of the copyright notice and an unbroken running head on p. 9.

"One of the first and freshest, because of its plain factual nature, of American accounts of the sea, the book has added importance because ... Dana journeyed up into the California cattle country, of which he gives us our only trustworthy account before the 1849 gold rush" (Grolier, American).