MARDI: AND A VOYAGE THITHER by MELVILLE, HERMAN - 1849

New York: Harper & Brothers, 1849. FIRST AMERICAN EDITION (intended to be published simultaneously with the British edition, but following it by a few days). 195 x 130 mm. (7 5/8 x 5 1/8"). With 8 pp. of ads at the end of volume II. Two volumes..
Publisher's dark brown cloth stamped in blind, title and publisher's device in gilt on spines, original yellow endpapers. Housed in a modern brown linen chemise and excellent matching slipcase with red morocco label. Front pastedowns with book label of Edward McCamus; front free endpaper of volume I and title pages in both volumes with his ink stamp. BAL 13658; Arvin, "Herman Melville," pp. 74-100; See Day, "History of American Literature," pp. 139-40. ◆The usual sprinkled foxing in the text (persistent but not unsightly, and the paper quite white and crisp); first volume with the inevitable slight pushing down of cloth at head and tail of spine, second volume with trivial wear to lower corners, yellow endleaves with the frequently seen gray discoloration, but the set completely solid, with no wear to the hinges, and THE BINDINGS REMARKABLY BRIGHT AND CLEAN.

This is an especially pleasing copy of Melville's third novel, notable, in Day's words, for the author's "first stated use of the sea voyage as a symbol of the quest for life's meaning." Like his earlier novels "Typee" and "Omoo," "Mardi" is set in the South Seas. It follows a young man, Taji, who deserts from a whaling ship to explore a Polynesian archipelago, finding and losing love along the way. According to Day, "With this work, Melville went beyond reporting exotic scenes and episodes, and perceived a vision of tragic intensity in Taji's haunted and unsuccessful quest. . . . 'Mardi' began Melville's use of romantic symbolism." The novel was original, but difficult, and did not find an appreciative contemporary audience; however, Melville scholar Newton Arvin considered it "indispensable" to Melville's development as a writer, employing themes and techniques that would find their footing in "Moby Dick.".