The points of issue
Blue cloth; first issue dated 1951 with no later-printing statement on the copyright page; first-state dust jacket. Published July 2, 1951.
Is this the true first?
US Oxford University Press (New York) true first; published July 1951. Won the 1952 National Book Award for Nonfiction. A UK Staples Press edition also appeared in 1951.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
The book went through numerous printings within months; the first printing must lack any later-impression statement on the copyright page, and jacket states vary (early flaps differ in review/price layout). The revised 1961 edition is a 'first thus,' not the true first.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Sea Around Us a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Blue cloth; first issue dated 1951 with no later-printing statement on the copyright page; first-state dust jacket. Published July 2, 1951.
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 Oxford University Press (New York) true first; published July 1951. Won the 1952 National Book Award for Nonfiction. A UK Staples Press edition also appeared in 1951.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
The book went through numerous printings within months; the first printing must lack any later-impression statement on the copyright page, and jacket states vary (early flaps differ in review/price layout). The revised 1961 edition is a 'first thus,' not the true first.
I have a first edition of The Sea Around Us — 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.