HARPER'S MONTHLY MAGAZINE, New York, volume for May thruy November, 1851 The “Town Ho’s Story” appears on pages 659-665 in the October issue. It was the first appearance of any part of the great novel Moby Dick and became chapter 54 in the book. A publisher’s note on page 659 says: “From The Whale, the title of a new work by Mr. Melville, now in the press of Harper and Brothers, and now publishing in London by Mr. Bentley.”
The chapter concerns a potential mutiny and the appearance of Moby Dick that thwarted the uprising. It was a first report of the white whale while at sea.
The volume is complete in 865 pages, original green, embossed bindings, green reinforcement tape at the top & bottom of the spine, minor wear to binding edges, library star at the back page, interior pages in very nice, clean condition.

Note: this same volume sold for $1500 in auction, May, 2025.