Moby-Dick, or, the Whale / by Herman Melville, author of "Typee," "Omoo," "Redburn," "Mardi," "White-jacket."

Inscription in an early hand on recto of third front fly-leaf: "B C. Williams [Walliams?], from [...]" (partially washed); stamp in red ink on recto of thrid front fly-leaf: "[...]rk" (mostly washed); marginal markings in pencil in numerous locations throughout; mathematical notes in pencil on verso of second front fly-leaf (mostly erased); bookseller's description of this copy, by James Cummins Bookseller, New York City, along with bookseller's display card and MSU Libraries exhibition label, available in MSS 466.

MSU: Laid-in material transferred to MSS 466, Box 7, Folder 273.

In publisher's purple-brown cloth (the Bibliography of American literature's "first binding"); circular device of Harper & Sons blind stamped in center of both boards; gilt-lettered and -decorated spine (rebacked, with original spine laid down); orange coated end-papers.