NY: Gordian Press, 1969. 2 vols. Second edition, with additional material. Xxxiv, 494; xv plates, 495-966pp, with indexes. Blue cloth stamped in gilt; no jackets, presumably as issued. Mild bumping to top corners of volume 1; toning to edges of textblocks; former owner's signature at ffep of both volumes. Better than very good.
An exhaustive documentary record of the life of American writer Herman Melville (1819-1891), organized chronologically, and drawing on dozens of sources, including letters, diaries, ledgers, family documents, newspaper articles and notices, etc. Compiled by American avant-garde filmmaker and historian Jay Leyda (1910- 1988). First published in Harcourt Brace in 1951; this second edition with additional material, including a new supplementary chapter and index. This copy from the library of former executive director of New York's Anthology Film Archives, Robert Haller (1942-2021), with his ownership signature to both volumes.
