MASTERWORK OF IRISH REALISM

Hanley, James (1901–1985)

Herman Melville: A Man in the Customs House [Signed Limited Edition]

The Dud Noman Press, Loughton, Essex:, 1971. First Edition, First Printing.
An uncommon, intimate private press tribute to Herman Melville by one of the 20th century’s most uncompromising novelists. 

In this evocative essay, James Hanley—himself a veteran of the sea and a master of maritime fiction—meditates on the spiritual and creative isolation of Melville’s later years. Printed by The John Roberts Press on Glastonbury Antique Laid paper, this production reflects the high standards of the British private press movement. This specific copy carries exceptional provenance, originating from the estate of Ben Raeburn, the publisher at Horizon Press who acted as Hanley’s primary American advocate.

KEY FEATURES
+++ Signed Edition: Boldly signed by James Hanley on the limitation page.
+++ Limitation: Number 24 of only 120 copies printed.
Design: Stapled card stock with large oversized flyleaves, 6.5 by 9.5 inches; [1] 2-14 [limitation] [1] pages.
+++ Paper: Printed on premium Glastonbury Antique Laid paper.
+++ Presswork: Published by Dud Noman Press and printed by The John Roberts Press, London.
+++ Association: Sourced directly from the estate of Hanley’s long-time publisher, Ben Raeburn.

CONDITION: Very Good
+++ The Pamphlet: Stapled card stock covers are crisp and clean with no signs of wear and sun-darkening on the spine.
+++ Internal: The text block is bright, sharp, and unmarked. The staples remain firm without oxidation. No flaws to note.

Scarcity note: Uncommon in the trade. With nearly half of the 120-copy limitation already secured in institutional collections, the opportunity for private acquisition is increasingly restricted.

HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE --
James Hanley frequently returned to the theme of the sea as a place of both labor and profound existential crisis. This 1971 essay represents a late-career conversation between two giants of maritime literature.

The Aesthetic Device: The whale device on the front and title page is central to the book's identity. It should be emphasized as it bridges the gap between Hanley’s prose and Melville’s iconographic legacy. The device utilizes a dense, swirling line-work that effectively captures the "pathos and horribleness" Hanley attributes to the white whale in his opening lines.

SCHOLARLY FEATURES
+++ The Whale Motif: The front cover and title page feature a striking, stylized woodcut-style device of a whale surfacing through turbulent waves—a direct visual homage to Moby Dick.
+++ Maritime Connection: As a former merchant seaman, Hanley’s insights into Melville’s  A Man in the Customs House are uniquely informed by personal experience with the bureaucratic and physical realities of port life.
+++ Bibliographical Note: A scarce title in the Hanley canon, often missing from major collections due to the small print run of 120 copies.

SUBJECTS: James Hanley, Herman Melville, Maritime Literature, Private Press, Dud Noman Press, Signed Limited Edition, Essay, Literary Criticism, Melvilleiana.

BIBLIOGRAPHICAL REFERENCE: Gibbs, A47a  Hanley bibliography

Item #21926

Price: $195.00