Description
The first edition of The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein, in the publisher’s early state dust jacket.
Octavo, [30 leaves, unpaginated]. Illustrated hardcover, title printed on front cover and spine. The first printing of the Giving Tree, with four lines of text on copyright page and no ISBN number listed. Solid text block, light wear to head and tail of spine, a near fine example. Previous ownership bookplate affixed to half-title. In the publisher’s early state dust jacket, $3.95 retail price on front flap, “0964” date code at bottom of flap, three reviews of Lafcadio from Virginia Kirkus’ Service, the New York Times and Publishers’ weekly, and an early photography of Silverstein by Kharberg on the back panel. Covers are shelf worn, lightly chipped along perimeter, notably at head and tail of spine, near fine condition. Front panel brightly illustrated. A nice copy.
The first state dust jacket features a $2.50 retail price listed on the front flap. Early state dust jackets have been observed with a retail price of $2.95, and this jacket, with a $3.95 retail price, and no ISBN number listed. Although the exact release date is unknown, a lack of ISBN number places the production of this jacket before 1967.
