“THE GREATEST BOOK ARTS WORK EVER PRODUCED IN THE UNITED STATES”: ROCKWELL KENT’S MOBY DICK

(KENT, Rockwell) MELVILLE, Herman. Moby Dick or The Whale. Illustrated by Rockwell Kent. Chicago: Lakeside Press, 1930. Three volumes. Small folio, original black cloth silver-stamped on front covers and spines in a design by Kent, uncut and unopened, original acetate dust jackets with attached paper flaps, original aluminum slipcase. $13,000.

Limited first edition of Rockwell Kent’s masterpiece and one of the most famous American illustrated books of the 20th century, one of only 1,000 copies, with 280 magnificent illustrations by Kent, many full-page, in original aluminum slipcase.

Spurned by critics and readers when published in 1851, Melville's Moby Dick resurfaced in the 20th century as one of America's greatest novels—due in no small part to this edition, "heralded by various critics as the greatest book arts work ever produced in the United States" (Stanley Collection 33). Kent not only provided the illustrations, but also designed this landmark edition. "His energy, many-sided activities and preoccupation with integrated book design made him one of the best known American illustrators" (Harthan, 247). Kent's prior experiences as a ship's carpenter; his explorations of the waters about Tierra del Fuego in a small boat; his sojourns in Newfoundland, Alaska, and Greenland—these varied experiences all contributed to Kent's achievement here, "his best-known contribution to popular American culture. In black and white, he created a universe of emblems and symbols that incorporated elements of both realism and abstraction… Kent observed: 'Moby Dick is a most solemn, mystic work, with the story and the setting serving merely as the medium for Melville's profound and poetic philosophy. Each chapter is in itself a poem, and should be presented with all the separate distinction and dignity possible'" (Wien, 134). Rockwellkentiana, 62. The Artist and the Book 140.

Fragile acetate dust jackets show some light chipping and are slightly darkened on the spines, rear flap to dust jacket of Volume I detached; books and slipcase fine. A beautiful copy, exceptionally scarce with the dust jackets.