An intact dust jacket adds immense value to this collectible. The original has pink end papers, as well. A blue dust jacket with a picture was designed and illustrated for this edition by Michael Rothenstein and printed in black and pink ink. The first British edition of Of Mice and Men was also published in 1937, in this case by William Heinemann in London. Again, checking page 9 is a surefire way to know what edition/printing you’re dealing with. Understand, too, that a second printing of Of Mice and Men was completed by Covici Friede in 1937, a mere 20 days after the first issue. Copies with Steinbeck’s signature and/or an inscription are often sold for a higher sum. Other factors that can impact price include whether or not the book is signed or an association copy. In fact, depending on the book's condition and that of the dust jacket, true Of Mice and Men first editions can cost anywhere from $25,000 down to a couple thousand dollars. Look for these colors to be vibrant, without fading, if you’re paying a premium for a first edition copy. The colors used are orange, green, and blue. At the bottom of the dust jacket, a notation reads, “a novel by John Steinbeck author of ‘Tortilla Flat’”. The dust jacket lists the title in navy blue in the forefront of an image of one larger and one smaller man in the middle of the page, flanked by trees. Likewise, the first edition dust jacket lists the original price of the book, $2.00, on the front flap. So be sure to take a close look at page 9 to verify a true first edition. As a result, the whole page was reconfigured.
This bit was removed in later printings due to its disjointed nature. First edition points include what appears to be a bullet point between the numbers 8 and 8 on page number 88 and the word “pendula” at the end of the sentence that reads, “.and only moved because the heavy hands were pendula” at the bottom of page 9. Published in 1937 by Covici Friede publishing house in New York City, the first edition was bound in the publisher’s beige cloth with a black and terra cotta stamp that includes the title and author’s name on the front cover and the spine. The first edition of Of Mice and Men is a logical place to start. Here, we’ve compiled several interesting editions and options for those looking to add Of Mice and Men to their shelves.įor those looking to really delve into collecting Steinbeck, we’d highly recommend the Tetsumaro Hayashi bibliography or the Goldstone & Payne bibliography, which we used as reference for what follows. For a Steinbeck collector, it’s a must-have. But it’s safe to say that Of Mice and Men will continue to be widely read, discussed, and appreciated.
As such, the work has been subject to both high praise and a substantial amount of criticism. It gives us characters and situations that make us think and feel deeply. Of Mice and Men, his 1937 novella, does what all brilliant pieces of literature are wont to do. He wrote prolifically throughout the 20th century, and his work and the themes he presents still resonate today. Legendary author John Steinbeck was a literary mastermind.