MELVILLE, HERMAN | The Piazza Tales. New York: Dix & Edwards, 1856

The Property of a Gentleman

MELVILLE, HERMAN

The Piazza Tales. New York: Dix & Edwards, 1856

8vo (7 1/4 x 4 1/2 in.; 184 x 114 mm). 7-page publisher's advertisement at rear. Publisher's brown blind-stamped cloth, spine with gilt lettering and decoration, yellow endpapers; some rubbing to spine and edges.

First edition. A very good copy. Most of the short stories in this collection had first appeared in Putnam's Monthly Magazine. The volume had a mixed reception. The English edition was set from the American sheets.

REFERENCE:

BAL 13669; Minnigerode 171; Sadleir, Excursions 231

PROVENANCE:

Thomas Colt (signature on front free endpaper and title-page) — Hubert Litchfield (armorial bookplate, his sale, Parke-Bernet, 4 December 1951, lot 669) — Gotham Book Mart (ticket on lower pastedown)