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Identification

1925 Moby Dick Photoplay Edition (The Sea Beast) by Herman Melville

Photo reference

4 uploaded photos

Overview

The title page and copyright page explicitly identify this as the 1925 Grosset & Dunlap photoplay edition of Moby Dick, tied to the film 'The Sea Beast'. The frontispiece shows a scene from the movie.

Story

Published by Grosset & Dunlap in 1925 to coincide with the Warner Bros. silent film 'The Sea Beast,' starring John Barrymore. Grosset & Dunlap was the premier publisher of photoplay editions during the silent and early sound eras, often inserting photographic stills from the films into popular reprint novels. The market for photoplay editions is a dedicated niche, driven by crossover appeal between classic literature collectors and early cinema enthusiasts.

Maker / Origin

Grosset & Dunlap

Condition & Value

The book lacks its original dust jacket, which is the primary value driver for photoplay editions. The orange cloth boards show typical age-related wear, including fraying at the spine heel.

Full Research

See what it's actually worth.

Sold comps, value drivers, and venue guidance pulled from recent auction results.

Market Analysis

The market for photoplay editions is a dedicated niche, driven by crossover appeal between classic literature collectors and early cinema enthusiasts. John Barrymore's 'The Sea Beast' is a notable silent film, giving this edition historical weight. However, condition and completeness are paramount; copies lacking the original dust jacket trade at a steep discount, often serving as reading or reference copies rather than premium collectibles.

Value Drivers

▲ Confirmed 1925 Grosset & Dunlap photoplay edition tied to a major silent film

▲ Crossover appeal between Melville collectors and early cinema enthusiasts

▲ Striking orange cloth binding with silver-stamped whaling ship remains visually appealing

Concerns

▼ Missing original dust jacket severely caps collectible value

▼ Visible spine wear and fraying at the heel detracts from display quality

Best Venue

List on a secondary marketplace like eBay or AbeBooks targeting film history or Melville enthusiasts. Price near the mid-to-high end of the jacketless range ($60-$80) if all three photographic plates are confirmed present. If plates are missing, price closer to the $40 floor.

Upside Potential

If the book is found to contain a notable association signature or inscription (e. g., related to the cast or production), the value could exceed the stated high. Otherwise, the jacketless condition firmly caps the upside at the $90 retail mark.

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Also found — market-range context

Related comps outside the valuation band· 4 comps

Surfaced during research but not used to anchor the valuation — wrong form, species, era, or no published price. Shown so the market range around this item is visible.

  • Bibliopolis
    MELVILLE, Herman. Moby Dick.
    Lacks specific edition, year, and publisher details; could be any edition.
    $40
  • eBay
    Moby Dick Herman Melville 1925 Grosset Dunlap Photoplay The Sea Beast Vintage HC
    Link could not be verified.
    $36
  • North American Auction Company· 2024-03-23
    Moby Dick, Melville, Photoplay Title The Sea Beast
    Sale on record but hammer price not published.
    No price
  • Heritage Auctions· 2011-06-30
    Herman Melville. Moby Dick. New York: Grosset & Dunlap, [1925]. Photoplay edition.
    Sale on record but hammer price not published.
    No price