The Year of the Whale by Victor B. Scheffer, First Edition, Marine Natural History Book

There’s a calmness in this old book that feels like listening to the sea itself. Published in 1969 by Charles Scribner’s Sons, The Year of the Whale by Victor B. Scheffer is both science and story — the tale of a young sperm whale’s first year of life, written by a marine biologist who understood the ocean’s voice. This first edition still wears its original dust jacket, which shows light chipping, small tears, and age yellowing along the edges. The book covers beneath are in excellent shape, with just a touch of corner bending. Inside, the pages are clean and unmarked, softly yellowed from age — the kind of patina that tells you this book has seen gentle hands and quiet evenings. Whether you love whales, marine history, or beautifully written natural studies, this one has a place on your shelf. It’s the kind of book that hums softly with time — a window into the era when people were just beginning to listen more closely to the sea. A thoughtful gift for a nature lover, marine biologist, or collector of vintage environmental books.

The book covers twelve months of ocean life — one chapter for each, with poetic detail and a naturalist’s wisdom. The illustrations by Leonard Everett Fisher are striking in their simplicity, all deep blues and clean white lines, evoking constellations and currents. The book opens with a scientific and lyrical prologue, “Approaching the Year of the Whale,” and then moves through twelve months of a young whale’s life, one chapter per month. Each section captures the whale calf’s growth and encounters — migration, feeding, threats from predators and humans, and the deep rhythms of ocean life.

📚 Item Details
Title: The Year of the Whale
Author: Victor B. Scheffer
Illustrator: Leonard Everett Fisher
Publisher: Charles Scribner’s Sons, New York
Year: 1969 (First Edition)
Condition: Very Good
Dust jacket with light chipping, edge wear, and yellowing
Clean blue boards with embossed whale design
Pages clean, unmarked, and evenly yellowed with age
Binding: Hardcover with original dust jacket

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