Description
First edition, first printing of Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls, in the scarce first state dust jacket.
Octavo, 212pp. Red brick cloth, title stamped in white on spine. The first printing, with “first edition” statement on copyright page. Small moisture stain to front cover, wear to cloth at heel of spine. Previous ownership inscription on front pastedown, otherwise free of marginalia. This copy is paired with the publisher’s first state dust jacket, $3.95 on front flap and no ISBN on rear flap, significant dampstain to top quarter, tissue repairs to front flap fold, short closed tears along top edge, light sunning to spine. Illustrated dust jacket by Reisie Lonette. A scarce first printing of Where the Red Fern Grows, with noted condition issues.
Where the Red Fern Grows first appeared as a three-part series in The Saturday Evening Post in 1961, titled “The Hounds of Youth.” This first printing in book form also appeared in 1961, where it received positive reviews, but sales were sluggish. The book was published by Doubleday for an initial retail price of $3.95. A second printing appeared in 1971 with a price of $4.95 on the dust jacket. The 1961 publication information was retained on the copyright page but without the “first edition” statement.
