Herman Melville
239 copies for sale · $20–$80,000 · 69 first editions · 4 signed
Notable copies for sale
Moby Dick - Herman Melville - Folio Society 2009 Limited Edition - VGC (2009) — eBay$1,991
The Confidence Man: His Masquerade (first edition) — B & B Rare Books$10,000
Typee Narrative of a Four Months’ Residence Among the Native of a Valley of the Marquesas (first edition) — James Cummins Bookseller$7,500
Typee. Narrative of a Four Months’ Residence among the Natives of a Valley of the Marquesa (first edition) — James Cummins Bookseller$4,500
Pierre; or, the Ambiguities (first edition) — Burnside Rare Books$3,800
Pierre; or, The Ambiguities (first edition) — James Cummins Bookseller$3,500
White Jacket; or the World in a Man-Of-War (first edition) — Burnside Rare Books$2,200
Battle-Pieces and Aspects of the War (first edition) — Back Creek Books$1,750
Typee Narrative of a Four Months’ Residence Among the Native of a Valley of the Marquesas (first edition) — James Cummins Bookseller$850
MODY DICK 2 VOLUME SET; Or the Whale (first edition) — Rare Book Cellar$598
The Confidence-Man: His Masquerade (signed) — James Cummins Bookseller$6,500
Typee: a peep at Polynesian life. During a four month's residence in a valley of the Marqu (first edition) — Rulon-Miller Books$425
What these are worth
Mardi: and a Voyage Thither5 copies from 5 sellers
Omoo3 copies from 3 sellers
Omoo A Narrative Of Adventures In The South Seas6 copies from 4 sellers
Each page gathers every copy on the market, what similar copies have fetched, and the spread between them.
Works on the market
MOBY DICK11 copies · $43–$250
MOBY DICK, OR THE WHALE6 copies · $44–$80,000
OMOO: A Narrative of Adventures in the South Seas6 copies · $250–$1,250
BILLY BUDD AND BENITO CERENO; Easton Press6 copies · $273–$293
MELVILLE; Moby Dick, Billy Budd, and Other Writings6 copies · $45–$71
MARDI: AND A VOYAGE THITHER5 copies · $900–$8,500
Typee A Peep At Polynesian Life During A Four Months Residence In A Valley Of The Marquesa5 copies · $325–$750
SHORT STORIES; Easton Press4 copies · $273–$298
TYPEE4 copies · $43–$58
MOBY-DICK, or The Whale3 copies · A$40–A$50,000
The Piazza Tales3 copies · $1,750–$6,000
MOBY DICK Easton Press by Herman Melville3 copies · $79–$293
Moby Dick la ballena blanca3 copies · $45–$275
OMOO3 copies · $20–$141
Confidence-Man. His Masquerade2 copies · $6,500–$10,000
The works of Herman Melville2 copies · $73–$6,500
Omoo: A Narrative of Adventure in the South Seas2 copies · $1,250–$4,500
White Jacket Or The World In A Man Of War2 copies · $1,000–$3,000
Mardi: And a Voyage Thither2 copies · $1,250–$1,750
MOBY-DICK OR THE WHALE 2 VOLUME SET; Franklin Library2 copies · $598–$698
Market context
143 copies of Herman Melville's works have left the market recently; the median last-listed price was $49 (last listed prices at time of sale or removal, not confirmed sale prices).
Recent auction results (hammer prices, premiums not included):
Moby Dick, first Rockwell Kent edition, custom morocco binding, New York, 1930. (forum, 2026-07-02)£850
Listings aggregated from rare-book dealers, auction houses and marketplaces worldwide; refreshed continually. Prices are seller asking prices unless marked as auction results.