Golden Guide To Fishes

The Hardcovers:

Fishes was the ninth Golden Guide published. The first hardcover printing of Fishes has the number 598 on the spine. This was published in 1956 by Simon & Schuster. The book itself has animal related decorated boards and a pictorial cover. The dustjacket states 278 Species In Full Color. Title page states 278 Fishes In Full Color. No printing history can be found on the inside flap of the dustjacket or the last page of the book. Price listed on DJ flap is $1.95. (same as scan #1 without cover price)

A hardcover DJ version of Fishes was published by Golden Press. Essentially the same book as the Simon & Schuster edition. Price on the DJ flap is $2.50. Printing code on page 160 is the letter H. (not shown)

Image #1 exists in a large (5 ¼ by 7 ¾ inch) hardcover. The number on the back cover is 63508.

Image #2 also exists in a large hardcover.. The ISBN number on the back cover is 0-307-63508-2.

The Softcovers:

The softcover edition of Fishes was probably issued about the same time as the HC edition. Numbered 498 on the spine. Front cover has 498:100. No cover price. Published in 1956 by Simon & Schuster. My copy has no letter code anywhere. (not shown)

The earliest edition of Fishes with a cover price was published in 1956 by Simon & Schuster. Numbered 498 on the spine. Cover price is $1.00. Again no letter code can be found anywhere. (first image)

The next edition of Fishes has the number 24498 on the spine. Cover price is $1.00. Publishing date is now listed as 1955. Published by Golden Press. My copy has the letter N on the last page. I have no idea why the Simon & Schuster editions list a copyright date of 1956 and the Golden Press editions list a copyright date of 1955. Perhaps it is just a typo. (not shown)

When Golden Press dropped A Golden Nature Guide from the cover of Fishes the art was slightly changed. The two fish at the bottom of the front cover were moved closer together. They added fish to the back cover and moved others around. Cover price listed as $1.95. My copy has an LL on the last page. Still listed as a 1955 copyright. (scan #2) A side by side comparison of the back cover is shown below.

Fishes

A new cover was issued for Fishes in the 1987. Stated revised edition. Cover price listed as $3.95. My copy has an A on the last page.(scan #3)

The Canadian version of Fishes is titled Les Poissons. It has same art and contents as the American version. Text is in French. Published in Ottawa, Quebec in 1984. Copyright 1955 by Western Publishing. ISBN is 2-89000-100-8. (last scan)

Still in print by St. Martin's Press.


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