Reviews of Herman Melville's work in contemporary American and British periodicals, including the Athenaeum, Littell's living age, and the Spectator. Works reviewed include Omoo, Mardi, Redburn, Moby-Dick, The piazza tales, The confidence man, Typee, and White-Jacket. A brief obituary notice in the Athenaeum in 1891 documents how Melville was remembered at that time. Also included in the collection are letters from Melville to publisher Richard Bentley and to James Billson (letters cataloged separately). Also, envelopes commemorating Melville and the novel Moby-Dick, franked in 1970 and 1984.