A Wizard of Earthsea

Overview:

  • Title: A Wizard of Earthsea
  • Author: Ursula K. Le Guin
  • Year: Unknown
  • ISBN-10: 0553262505
  • Publisher: Bantam Books
  • Price: $7.99
  • Pages: [8]+199
  • Binding: Paperback
  • Type: Novel
  • Title Reference: A Wizard of Earthsea
  • Notes:
    • Undated 66th printing that states:
      Parnassus Press hardcover edition published November 1968
      Bantam mass market edition / August 1975
      Bantam trade paperback edition / October 2004
      Bantam mass market reissue / October 2004
      ...
      Manufactured in the United States of America
      Published simultaneously in Canada
      ...
      OPM 69 68 67 66
    • There is no advertising or other material to help date the publication. Amazon.com reports "April 1, 1984" for this ISBN which is clearly wrong. The publication being verified was purchased Feb-2011.
    • The publisher name is "Bantam Books" on the title page and inside front cover. The spine has the Bantam Spectra logo and the copyright page states "A Bantam Spectra Book".
    • Priced $7.99 with no Canadian or other market prices.
    • There are 8 unnumbered pages before page [1]. The story runs from page [1] to [198]. Page [199] has both an "About the Author" and "About the Illustrator" bio/essay. Page [200] is blank. The author's bio/essay is also on inside of the back cover and seems to be the same as what's on page [199].
    • The cover artist is credited on the copyright page as "Cover art © 2004 SCI FI Channel Creative Services". A signature is not visible.
    • The interior artist is credited on the title page as "Illustrated by Ruth Robbins" and on the copyright page as "Illustrations © 1968 by Ruth Robbins".
    • Stated "Copyright © 1968 by Ursula K. Le Guin".
    • The copyright page states "Library of Congress Catalog Card Number 68021992" but that LCCN is for the original Parnassus Press edition.
    • An Amazon Look Inside is available for this publication with the only difference being that the Look Inside is of the first printing of this edition with number line "OPM 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1" while this publication record is for the 66th printing with "OPM 69 68 67 66".
    • The publication has a map of Earthsea on pages [6-7] of the preliminary material. This map is also bordered by the ten glyphs used in the ten chapter headers. Within the body of the story are maps that show portions of the main Earthsea map in more detail. . A signature is not visible on any of the maps.
      • Page 10 - Northeast. The main feature is "The Kargad Lands."
      • Page 33 - center.
      • Page 94 - west.
      • Page 167 - southeast. The main feature is "The East Reach."
    • Per Locus1, this is a tie-in edition to the SCI FI Channel miniseries.
    • March 14, 2011: List price reported as $7.99 on Amazon.com and there is no list price on Amazon.ca.