The points of issue
US Holt first edition, full title 'Dolphin Island: A Story of the People of the Sea,' dust jacket by Alex Schomburg. Juvenile novel.
Is this the true first?
US Holt edition, 1963; a UK Gollancz edition also appeared in 1963, so this is identified as the US first rather than an established world first.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Book club edition: typically a blind-stamped device on the rear board and a jacket without a printed price.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Dolphin Island a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: US Holt first edition, full title 'Dolphin Island: A Story of the People of the Sea,' dust jacket by Alex Schomburg. Juvenile novel.
How do I tell the first printing from a later one?
Check the copyright page for the publisher's first-printing convention and confirm the points above. US Holt edition, 1963; a UK Gollancz edition also appeared in 1963, so this is identified as the US first rather than an established world first.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Book club edition: typically a blind-stamped device on the rear board and a jacket without a printed price.
I have a first edition of Dolphin Island — what should I do?
If you're clearing books, New Mexico Literacy Project offers free pickup in Albuquerque, any condition, and makes sure collectible copies aren't lost. To sell, see the author's collecting guide. Either way, nothing valuable ends up in a landfill.