I recently was gifted an unusual copy of Moby Dick (I have a small collection). It's the 1930 Random House First Trade Edition, but it's a rebind with deckle edges.
Comparing it to a normal 1930 its pages are slightly wider, otherwise identical. We've been sleuthing trying to figure out how this book came to be, as there doesn't seem to be another quite like listed on the internet.
So I understand, at the time, books were printed unopened, and for mass market they get neatly trimmed. Other copies may be unopened so you can cut them yourself and get a deckle.
Current best guess: it was an early, unopened copy given to….someone who wanted a rebind to fit the aesthetic of their fancy library?
by MyChickenSucks