Moby Dick
by Melville, Herman
Melville's classic was first published in England as three volumes titled The Whale in October 1851. Slow sales of Melville's previously books convinced Publisher L. Richard Bentley to reduce the printing to only 500 copies, and of that, only 300 sold in the first 4 months. The remaining unbound sheets were bound in a cheaper casing in 1852, and in 1853 there were still enough remaining sheets to again bind into an even cheaper edition.
Melville changed the title to Moby Dick a month later, November 1851, when the American Version was published in one volume by Harper & Brothers in NY. Of the 2,951 copies printed, 125 were review copies. About 1,500 sold in 11 days, but then sales slowed to less than 300 the next year. After two years copies of the first edition were still available, and almost 300 were destroyed in the 1853 fire of Harper's warehouse. Most of the first editions have orange end-papers, although there are 2 known volumes with rare white-endpapers.
Because of Nineteenth-century printing practices, and the time-lapse between when the first-editions were published and Melville became collectible, oxidized paper, bumped and chipped spines, and brittle wrappers are all common for even the most expensive and collectible of these books, which can sell from $35,000 to $100,000. Also, expect heavy wear and maybe even minor repair. Another collectible edition is the 1930 first edition illustrated by Rockwell Kent, a three-volume set published by the Lakeside Press with acetate dust jackets in an aluminum slipcase. These range in value from $9,000 to $11,000.
A total of 3,215 copies of Moby-Dick were sold during Melville's life (he died in 1891). Today, Moby-Dick is considered one of the greatest American novels. -First Edition Identification and Notes
Other Collectible or Notable Editions
A 1930 edition of Moby Dick, illustrated by Rockwell Kent, was first published as a three-volume set in an aluminum case by Lakeside Press. The Lakeside Press edition was limited to 1000 copies.
Random House also published a trade edition of the Rockwell Kent illustrated Moby Dick in 1930.
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Moby Dick; Or, The Whale.
by Melville, Herman
- Seller
- Raptis Rare Books
- Published
- 1851
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$65,000.00
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Moby-Dick; or, The Whale
by MELVILLE, HERMAN
- Seller
- Peter L. Stern & Company, Inc.
- Published
- 1851
- Condition
- First American Edition; preceded slightly by the English edition, although this edition has numerous additions to that text. Pub
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$60,000.00
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Moby-Dick; or, The Whale
by Melville, Herman
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- James Cummins Bookseller
- Published
- 1851
- Condition
- Publisher's red cloth, cover bordered in blind and with central Harper & Brother's circular stamp in blind, spine lettered in gi
- Edition
- First American edition
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$30,000.00
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Moby Dick; or, the Whale
by Melville, Herman
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- Burnside Rare Books, ABAA
- Published
- 1851
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- Very Good
- Edition
- First Edition
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$26,000.00
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Moby Dick, or, The Whale
by MELVILLE, Herman (1819-1891)
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- Donald Heald Rare Books
- Published
- 1851
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$24,000.00
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Moby-Dick; or, The Whale
by MELVILLE, Herman
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- Main Street Fine Books & Manuscripts, ABAA
- Published
- 1851
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$19,500.00
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Moby Dick, or the Whale
by Melville, Herman
- Seller
- James Cummins Bookseller
- Published
- 1930
- Condition
- Publisher's black cloth stamped in silver with design by Kent, spine ends bumped, some fraying to lower edges of covers. Origina
- Edition
- One of 1000 sets
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$10,000.00
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MOBY DICK
by MELVILLE, HERMAN
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- Griffin Books
- Published
- 1930-01-01
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- Very Good
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$4,000.00
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Moby Dick, Or The Whale
by Melville, Herman
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- Bearly Read Books
- Published
- 1930
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- Good
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$2,500.00
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Moby Dick or The White Whale
by MELVILLE, HERMAN
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- James Pepper Rare Books, Inc.
- Published
- 1892
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$2,000.00
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Moby Dick or The White Whale
by Herman Melville
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- The Real Book Shop
- Published
- c. 1901
- Condition
- Very good tight copy with a little wear to edges of boards, minor bumping to corners, with moderate bumping to front right botto
- Edition
- 1st UK Putnam's Sons edition
- Item Price
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$1,856.85
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Moby-Dick; or, the Whale [California Edition]
by Melville, Herman
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- Mount of Alex - Arapiles Mountain Books
- Published
- 1981
- Condition
- F
- Edition
- First Thus
- ISBN
- 9780520045491
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$1,778.50
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Moby Dick or The Whale.
by MELVILLE, Herman.
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- Peter Harrington
- Published
- 1930
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$1,702.11
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Moby Dick: Or The Whale
by Melville, Herman
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- mclinhavenbooks
- Published
- 1930
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- Near Fine
- Edition
- First Trade Edition.
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$1,500.00
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Moby Dick or The Whale [with] 'Moby-Dick A Commentary by Harold Beaver'
by Melville, Herman
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- HALCYON BOOKS
- Published
- 2009-01-01
- Condition
- Like New
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$1,473.10
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Moby Dick, or The Whale
by Melville, Herman
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- Diamond Hollow Books
- Published
- 1930
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$1,400.00
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MOBY DICK
by MELVILLE, Herman
- Seller
- Charles Agvent
- Published
- 1943
- Condition
- The leather is still supple with solid coloring. The spines are faded with some wear to the tips, and there's slight edgewear bu
- Item Price
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$1,250.00
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Moby Dick; or, The Whale
by Melville, Herman
- Seller
- Yesterday's Muse Books
- Published
- 1930
- Condition
- Near Fine
- Edition
- First Thus
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$1,250.00
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Moby Dick
by Herman Melville
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- mclinhavenbooks
- Published
- 1930
- Condition
- Very Good
- Edition
- first Illustrated Edition
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$1,200.00
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Moby Dick; or, the Whale
by MELVILLE, Herman
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- Argosy Book Store
- Published
- 1943
- Condition
- fine
- Edition
- Limited
- Item Price
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$1,000.00
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Moby Dick
by Melville, Herman
- Seller
- Bud Plant & Hutchison Books
- Published
- 1930
- Condition
- Near Fine
- Edition
- 1st edition thus
- Item Price
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$1,000.00
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Moby Dick or the Whale. Illustrated by Rockwell Kent.
by MELVILLE, Herman.
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- Zephyr Used & Rare Books
- Published
- 1930.
- Item Price
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$895.00
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Thor & Sif = Dracula 1-2
by Diverse
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- Mondevana
- Published
- 09/1984
- Edition
- 1.
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$887.17
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Moby Dick Or The White Whale
by Melville,Herman
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- Richard Thornton Books
- Published
- 1901
- Condition
- Very Good
- Edition
- First Thus
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$860.34
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MOBY DICK; OR, THE WHALE
by Melville, Herman
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- William Reese Company - Literature ABAA-ILAB
- Published
- 1943
- Item Price
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$850.00
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Moby-Dick, or The Whale (Illustrations by Barry Moser)
by Melville, Herman
- Seller
- University Press Books
- Condition
- Univ of California Press, 1981, with slipcase, without Dust Jacket Condition Very Good+ little shelf wear
- ISBN
- 9780520045491
- Item Price
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$849.00
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Moby Dick : or, The whale / by Herman Melville ; illustrated by Rockwell Kent
by Melville, Herman (1819-1891)
- Seller
- MW Books Ltd.
- Published
- 1930
- Edition
- First UK Edition
- Item Price
-
$750.00
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Moby Dick or The Whale
by Herman Melville
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- William Chrisant & Sons' Florida Book Shop, ABAA, ILAB, FABA
- Published
- 1930
- Condition
- Very Good
- Edition
- First Edition
- Item Price
-
$750.00
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Moby Dick or, The Whale
by Herman Melville
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- Four Rivers Books, LLC
- Published
- 1975
- Condition
- Fine in a fine slipcase
- Item Price
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$750.00
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Moby Dick, or The Whale
by MELVILLE, Herman
- Seller
- Argosy Book Store
- Published
- 1930
- Condition
- fine
- Item Price
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$750.00
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Moby Dick
by Herman Melville
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- Lasting Words Ltd
- Published
- 1901
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- Very Good
- Edition
- First Edition Thus
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$680.85
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Moby Dick (First UK Edition)
by Melville, Herman
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- Fialta Books
- Published
- 1930
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- Very Good
- Edition
- 1st Edition 1st Printing
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$710.80 $639.72Save $194.02!
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Illuminati
by Brown, Dan
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- Mondevana
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- 01/2011
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- 1.
- ISBN
- 9783942656023
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$636.97
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Moby Dick or the White Whale (In the Original Slipcase)
by Melville, Herman
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- Robert's Bookshop
- Published
- 1943
- Condition
- Very Good+ with no dust jacket
- Edition
- Limited 1st edition
- Item Price
-
$600.00
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Moby Dick or the Whale, Illustrated by Rockwell Kent
by Melville, Herman
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- GridFreed LLC
- Published
- 1982-01-01
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- New
- ISBN
- 9783551300010
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$574.99
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Moby Dick, or The Whale
by Melville, Herman
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- Peruse the Stacks
- Published
- 1975
- Condition
- Near Fine
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$500.00
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Im Bann des Riesenplaneten: Bomben auf die Sonne von Herkules das ist die letzte Chance für die Galaxis
by Brand, Kurt (10. Majo 1917 - 8. Novembro 1991)
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- Mondevana
- Published
- 18/04/1969
- Edition
- 2.
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$479.55
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Moby-Dick or, The Whale
by Herman Melville
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- A Squared Books
- Published
- 1962
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- Very Good
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$450.00
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Moby Dick: Starring John Barrymore: A warner Bros & Vitaphone Talking Picture
by Melville, Herman
- Seller
- Wonderland Books
- Published
- 1925
- Condition
- very good condition in green cloth and in a dust jacket with a bit of edgewear, an inch closed tear on the top of the front and
- Item Price
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$450.00
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Zukunft kennt kein Morgen: Gefangen im Wirbel der Zeiten, Die
by Terrid, Peter (Ritter, Wolfpeter (15. Januaro 1949 - 1. Decembro 1998)
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- Mondevana
- Published
- 15/12/1987
- Edition
- 1.
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$428.47
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Moby Dick or The Whale
by Herman Melville
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- mclinhavenbooks
- Published
- 1977
- Condition
- Near Fine
- Edition
- 5th or later Edition
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$420.00
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Moby Dick; or, The Whale
by Melville, Herman
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- Barking Dog Books and Art LLC
- Published
- 1943
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- Good
- Edition
- Limited/Numbered
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$405.00
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Moby-Dick or the whale
by Herman Melville
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- Schwabe Books
- Published
- 1981
- Condition
- Very Good
- Item Price
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$399.00
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Moby Dick: or, the White Whale, Illustrated by Mead Schaeffer.
by MELVILLE, Herman.
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- Zephyr Used & Rare Books
- Published
- 1942.
- Item Price
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$375.00
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Nacht der Drachen, Die
by Dickson, Gordon R(upert)
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- Mondevana
- Published
- 1998
- Edition
- 2.
- ISBN
- 9783453126930
- Item Price
-
$354.45
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Moby Dick : , The Whale / By Herman Melville ; Illustrated By Rockwell Kent
by Herman Melville
- Seller
- M&J Books
- Published
- 1930
- Condition
- Good + - Very Good
- Edition
- First
- Item Price
-
$350.00
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MOBY-DICK or The Whale: Volumes 1-2
by Herman Melville
- Seller
- Kubik Fine Books Ltd, ABAA
- Published
- 1980
- Item Price
-
$350.00
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Moby Dick, Or The Whale
by Melville, Herman
- Seller
- Bearly Read Books
- Published
- 1937
- Condition
- Good
- Item Price
-
$350.00
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Moby Dick or The Whale
by Melville, Herman
- Seller
- Foster Books - Stephen Foster, ABA, ILAB, PBFA
- Published
- 1930
- Condition
- Good
- Edition
- First UK Edition
- Item Price
-
$340.42
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Armee der Kriegsdiener: Invasion auf Titan der Supermutant jagt Vascalo, Die
by Ewers, H.G. (Gehrmann, Horst (1. Januaro 1930 - 19. Septembro 2013)
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- Mondevana
- Published
- 14/04/1987
- Edition
- 4.
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$312.75