Of Mice and Men First Edition — Identification, Values & Collecting Guide

Why This Book Matters

Of Mice and Men is the American novella that refuses to stop being read. Published by Covici-Friede in New York on February 6, 1937, John Steinbeck’s story of George and Lennie has sold tens of millions of copies and remains one of the most taught works of American fiction — assigned in schools worldwide, adapted for stage and film repeatedly, and embedded in the common culture to the point where “tell me about the rabbits” needs no attribution. The book was a bestseller upon publication (the Book-of-the-Month Club selection alone guaranteed massive reach), and Steinbeck’s 1962 Nobel Prize permanently cemented his canonical status.

For collectors, Of Mice and Men occupies an interesting position: it’s enormously desirable (Steinbeck is one of the most collected American authors), relatively scarce in first printing (the publisher Covici-Friede went bankrupt shortly after publication), and distinguished by a famous textual point (the “bullet” on page 9) that creates clear first-issue identification. The combination of school-adoption ensuring endless new collectors, Steinbeck’s Nobel stature, and the publisher’s financial collapse limiting supply makes this one of the most reliably appreciating modern first editions.

First Edition Identification

Publisher and Imprint

Covici-Friede, Inc., New York Publication date: February 6, 1937 First printing: Approximately 10,000 copies (including BOMC selection) Price: $2.00

The Covici-Friede Complication

Pascal Covici and Donald Friede’s publishing house went bankrupt in 1938 — just one year after publishing Of Mice and Men. This is significant because:

• No subsequent Covici-Friede printings exist (the firm ceased to exist)
• Later printings were done by Viking Press (where Covici moved as an editor)
• The bankruptcy means fewer total Covici-Friede copies reached the market
• Covici-Friede books in general are scarcer than equivalent titles from stable publishers

Copyright Page

• “FIRST EDITION” is NOT stated (Covici-Friede’s practice)
• No number line
• Identification relies on physical points (see below)

The Page 9 “Bullet” Point

The critical first-issue identification:

First issue: Page 9, line 1 — a small dot (bullet/period) appears between the two paragraphs that should not be there. This is a typographical error — an extraneous piece of type that was caught and removed after the first batch was printed.

Later printing: The dot/bullet is absent from page 9.

This is one of the most famous “points” in American book collecting — frequently tested by dealers and always mentioned in catalog descriptions.

Physical Description

Binding States

Some bibliographers note binding variants:

• First state: Tan cloth without the publisher’s device on the front cover
• Second state: Publisher’s device added to front cover
• The distinction is minor and may represent simultaneous production rather than sequential states

Dust Jacket

Description

• Front panel: Decorative design with title and author; brown and tan color scheme
• Spine: Title, author, publisher
• Rear panel: Advertisements for other Covici-Friede titles OR reviews
• Front flap: Price $2.00; descriptive text
• Rear flap: Advertisements or continuation of front flap text

Jacket Scarcity

The jacket survival rate is moderate for this era — perhaps 15–25% of surviving first-issue copies retain jackets. The book’s slim size (186 pages) means a thin spine that’s vulnerable to wear, and the tan jacket shows soil readily.

Value Ranges

Signed Copies

Steinbeck’s Signing History

Steinbeck (1902–1968) was moderately accessible for signing:

• Active career from 1929–1968
• Won Nobel Prize in 1962 (increasing requests)
• Not reclusive but not aggressively promotional
• Lived in New York for much of his later career

Estimated Signed Population for Of Mice and Men

Approximately 200–500 signed first-issue copies exist:

• Steinbeck signed regularly but not excessively
• The book’s fame meant many requests over the decades
• Both inscribed and flat-signed copies appear at auction

Value When Signed

Complete Steinbeck Novel Bibliography

The Steinbeck Hierarchy

• Tier 1: Of Mice and Men + The Grapes of Wrath — the two essential Steinbeck titles
• Tier 2: Cup of Gold (debut scarcity), East of Eden (his most ambitious), Cannery Row (beloved)
• Tier 3: Everything else (affordable at $200–$1,500 each)

The Grapes of Wrath Comparison

School Adoption and Permanent Demand

The Generational Renewal Effect

Of Mice and Men has been taught in American and British schools since the 1950s. This creates:

1. New collectors every year: Each cohort of students includes future collectors who remember the book fondly
2. Cultural permanence: The book can never become obscure
3. Sustained demand floor: Even in weak collecting markets, Of Mice and Men sells
4. Nostalgia premium: People buying the first edition of a book they read at 14 pay with emotion, not just calculation

Banned Book Status

Of Mice and Men is consistently among the most challenged/banned books in American schools (language, racial terms, violence). Paradoxically, this:

• Keeps the book in public consciousness
• Creates a “forbidden fruit” association
• Generates news coverage that reminds people the book exists
• Has never actually reduced school adoption in aggregate

Collecting Context

Depression-Era American Fiction

California Literature

Of Mice and Men anchors a “California fiction” collection:

• Steinbeck’s Salinas Valley novels
• Chandler’s Los Angeles
• Didion’s California
• Bukowski’s Los Angeles
• Kerouac’s San Francisco

Buying Advice

The Entry Point

An unjacketed copy with the page 9 bullet point ($300–$2,000):

• Verify the bullet/dot on page 9, line 1
• Check binding (tan cloth, brown lettering)
• Confirm Covici-Friede imprint (NOT Viking — Viking = later)
• A genuine first-issue copy of a permanently canonical novel

The Mid-Range ($3,000–$15,000)

A jacketed copy in collectible condition:

• Jacket critical for this title (10x multiplier)
• Check jacket for restoration under UV light
• Verify price $2.00 on front flap (not clipped)
• The jacket’s tan ground shows every mark — grade realistically

Red Flags

1. Viking Press imprint: NOT a Covici-Friede first edition
2. No bullet on page 9: Later printing (or bullet removed by a seller — examine carefully)
3. BOMC indicators: Simultaneous book club edition exists; check for blind stamp
4. Jacket from a later printing placed on first-issue book: Verify jacket matches era
5. “First published 1937” WITHOUT Covici-Friede: May be a UK or later US edition