The points of issue
First edition, 1951 Viking, with the prefatory memoir 'About Ed Ricketts' and the narrative-only text (no species catalogue). Copyright page shows the 1951 first-issue state with no later-printing line; first-issue jacket with front-flap price.
Is this the true first?
US Viking (1951) is the true first OF THIS WORK ('first thus'): it reprints the Steinbeck narrative from the 1941 Sea of Cortez and adds the 'About Ed Ricketts' preface, but it is a distinct book, not a reprint of the 1941 first. The 1941 Sea of Cortez (with Ricketts) is the separate, scarcer title.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Distinguish from the 1941 Sea of Cortez (which contains the full species catalogue). The 1951 Log lacks the catalogue and adds the Ricketts memoir; later Viking/Penguin reprints are obvious by printing statements.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Log from the Sea of Cortez a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First edition, 1951 Viking, with the prefatory memoir 'About Ed Ricketts' and the narrative-only text (no species catalogue). Copyright page shows the 1951 first-issue state with no later-printing line; first-issue jacket with front-flap price.
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 Viking (1951) is the true first OF THIS WORK ('first thus'): it reprints the Steinbeck narrative from the 1941 Sea of Cortez and adds the 'About Ed Ricketts' preface, but it is a distinct book, not a reprint of the 1941 first. The 1941 Sea of Cortez (with Ricketts) is the separate, scarcer title.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Distinguish from the 1941 Sea of Cortez (which contains the full species catalogue). The 1951 Log lacks the catalogue and adds the Ricketts memoir; later Viking/Penguin reprints are obvious by printing statements.
I have a first edition of The Log from the Sea of Cortez — 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.