Posted by First Edition Identification
The Giving Tree, written & illustrated by Shel Silverstein; Harper & Row, 1964
Children’s Picturebook Price Guide Value: $780 VG+
The Giving Tree, first published in 1964, is a children’s book written and illustrated by Shel Silverstein. The story is a short moral tale about a relationship between a young boy and a tree in a forest. It tells the account of how the tree loves the boy, and helps the boy with his needs throughout his life, from the boy’s childhood until his golden years (See GottaBook’s Oddaptations for a synopsis). This book has become one of Silverstein’s best known titles and has been translated into more than 30 languages.
Since The Giving Tree was published, it has generated controversy and opposing opinions for its interpreted messages, on whether the tree is selfless or merely self-sacrificing, and whether the boy is selfish or reasonable in his demands of the tree.
Essential identifying point – DJ
Copies of The Giving Tree for sale are often incorrectly identfied as first editions. The true first printing is difficult to find, and does not surface regularly for sale. To set the record straight:
Dust jacket flap: Price “$2.50”.
Note: The DJ price is essential, since we’ve come across editions with all first edition points on book and DJ, except price is "$3.95".
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Back DJ flap:
Three reviews of Lafcadio, by NY Times, Kirkus, Publisher’s Weekly.
Back DJ cover:
Full torso picture of Shel Silverstein, with hair, covering top left half of back dj. Early printings have larger photo, again with hair. Later printings have a bald Silverstein photo covering entire back dj cover.
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Essential Identifying Point – Book
Front cover
Same image as front dust jacket.
Back cover:
Green boards, blank.
Copyright page:
Four lines, as follows:
Why is there a “Later printing” of the book? Is there a difference between the two books?
The first edition was published in 1964 and quickly sold out at bookstores. Subsequently Harper & Row made additional print runs to meet the demand of the sales. These subsequent printings to meet the sales demand are collectively referred to as ‘later printings’ and have lower collector interest.