The points of issue
First edition, E. P. Dutton (New York), 1925. The first printing has no date on the title page and no further-printing statement on the copyright verso. Octavo of about 252 pages bound in olive cloth lettered in black on the spine, with no mention of the Newbery on the binding. Illustrated with silhouette decorations by Else Hasselriis.
Is this the true first?
US true first. Newbery Medal 1926 for the 1925 publication.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Later Dutton printings add stated printing notices; bindings or jackets referencing the Newbery Medal postdate the first printing. Verify the bare copyright verso and the undated title page.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Shen of the Sea a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First edition, E. P. Dutton (New York), 1925. The first printing has no date on the title page and no further-printing statement on the copyright verso. Octavo of about 252 pages bound in olive cloth lettered in black on the spine, with no mention of the Newbery on the binding. Illustrated with silhouette decorations by Else Hasselriis.
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 true first. Newbery Medal 1926 for the 1925 publication.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Later Dutton printings add stated printing notices; bindings or jackets referencing the Newbery Medal postdate the first printing. Verify the bare copyright verso and the undated title page.
I have a first edition of Shen of the Sea — 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.