The points of issue
First printing has the 'A' with 1952 imprint on the copyright page; first-issue dust jacket has the blue/silver design with NO Book-of-the-Month Club blind-stamp and the printed price present (jacket not clipped).
Is this the true first?
US Scribner's 1952 is the true first. The BOMC edition appeared almost simultaneously and is the single most common confusion.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
BOMC/book-club copy has a small blind-stamped square or dot on the lower-right rear board and NO 'A' on the copyright page; that blind-stamp is the definitive tell.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Old Man and the Sea a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First printing has the 'A' with 1952 imprint on the copyright page; first-issue dust jacket has the blue/silver design with NO Book-of-the-Month Club blind-stamp and the printed price present (jacket not clipped).
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 Scribner's 1952 is the true first. The BOMC edition appeared almost simultaneously and is the single most common confusion.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
BOMC/book-club copy has a small blind-stamped square or dot on the lower-right rear board and NO 'A' on the copyright page; that blind-stamp is the definitive tell.
I have a first edition of The Old Man and 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.