# Is "In Search of Nature" by E. O. Wilson a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of In Search of Nature by E. O. Wilson (Island Press / Shearwater Books, 1996) is identified by: Island Press / Shearwater Books (Washington, D.C.) first printing, 1996; illustrated by Laura Southworth; A Shearwater Book stated on the title page; pictorial dust jacket with printed price. US true first, Island Press / Shearwater Books; first collected edition of these essays.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- Island Press / Shearwater Books (Washington, D.C.) first printing, 1996; illustrated by Laura Southworth
- A Shearwater Book stated on the title page; pictorial dust jacket with printed price
- Essay collection, roughly 214 pages
- Publisher imprint reads Island Press / Shearwater Books
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | E. O. Wilson |
| Publisher | Island Press / Shearwater Books |
| Year | 1996 |
| True first | US edition |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | Island Press / Shearwater Books (Washington, D.C.) first printing, 1996; illustrated by… |
| Book-club edition exists? | Yes |

## Points of issue
Island Press / Shearwater Books (Washington, D.C.) first printing, 1996; illustrated by Laura Southworth; A Shearwater Book stated on the title page; pictorial dust jacket with printed price. Essay collection, roughly 214 pages.

## Is this the true first?
US true first, Island Press / Shearwater Books; first collected edition of these essays.

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No book club edition.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *In Search of Nature* by E. O. Wilson a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/in-search-of-nature
CC BY 4.0. Part of the Canonical First-Edition Points of Issue dataset (https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/api/first-edition-titles.json). Last reviewed 2026-07-03.