Silent Spring
by CARSON, RACHEL
- Used
- near fine
- first
- Condition
- Near Fine/VG+
- Seller
-
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Payment Methods Accepted
About This Item
Cambridge: Houghton Mifflin Co, 1962. 1st Edition. Cloth. Near Fine/VG+. 8vo. Gilt lettered green cloth in price clipped dust jacket. Yellow top stain. Wear to extremities. Shallow chipping at head and heel of spine. One of the great early environmental books whose specific effect was the banning of the pesticide DDT. Collectible copy of the classic.
Synopsis
Silent Spring is a groundbreaking environmental science book by Rachel Carson that brought environmental concerns to the general population. It was published in 1962, a decade after Carson won the National Book Award for her best-selling book The Sea Around Us (1951). When Silent Spring was published, Rachel Carson was already a well-known writer on natural history but had not previously been a social critic. Silent Spring served as a catalyst for the modern environmental movement, shedding light on the detrimental effects of indiscriminate pesticide use on ecosystems and human health. Examining the widespread use of synthetic pesticides, particularly DDT, and their unintended consequences on wildlife and the environment, Carson exposes how pesticides harm beneficial insects, birds, and aquatic life. Silent Spring argues that these chemicals accumulate in the food chain, posing serious risks to human beings. Upon its release, Silent Spring sparked both praise and controversy. The book's publication history reflects this dynamic reception. The first edition was published by Houghton Mifflin Company in 1962, with illustrations by Louis and Lois Darling. The initial print run of 50,000 copies sold out quickly, indicating the significant public interest in the subject matter. The book's first edition has a few notable points. The cover of the first edition features a striking illustration of a forest with silhouetted birds created by Paul Bacon. The book consists of 17 chapters and ends with a chapter titled "The Other Road," which suggests alternative methods of pest control that are less harmful to the environment. Despite initial criticism from the chemical industry and agricultural interests, Silent Spring garnered widespread acclaim for its scientific rigor and persuasive arguments. It raised awareness about the need for environmental protection and led to increased scrutiny of pesticide use. The book ultimately influenced policy changes, such as the banning of DDT in the United States and the establishment of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in 1970. Rachel Carson's Silent Spring remains a seminal work in environmental literature, inspiring generations of activists, scientists, and policymakers to address the ecological challenges facing our planet. Its enduring impact continues to shape environmental discourse and conservation efforts worldwide.
Read More: Identifying first editions of Silent Spring
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Details
- Bookseller
- Karol Krysik Books, ABAC/ILAB, IOBA, PBFA
(CA)
- Bookseller's Inventory #
- 42145
- Title
- Silent Spring
- Author
- CARSON, RACHEL
- Format/Binding
- Cloth
- Book Condition
- Used - Near Fine
- Jacket Condition
- VG+
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Edition
- 1st Edition
- Publisher
- Houghton Mifflin Co
- Place of Publication
- Cambridge
- Date Published
- 1962
Terms of Sale
Karol Krysik Books, ABAC/ILAB, IOBA, PBFA
30 day return guarantee, with full refund including original shipping costs for up to 30 days after delivery if an item arrives misdescribed or damaged.
About the Seller
Karol Krysik Books, ABAC/ILAB, IOBA, PBFA
Biblio member since 2012
Toronto, Ontario
About Karol Krysik Books, ABAC/ILAB, IOBA, PBFA
Interesting and unusual books and printed matter. Visual items, illustrated books, private press, mythology/folklore, modern first editions. Member of the Antiquarian Booksellers Association of Canada (ABAC) and theIndependent Online Booksellers Association (IOBA)
Glossary
Some terminology that may be used in this description includes:
- Gilt
- The decorative application of gold or gold coloring to a portion of a book on the spine, edges of the text block, or an inlay in...
- Cloth
- "Cloth-bound" generally refers to a hardcover book with cloth covering the outside of the book covers. The cloth is stretched...
- Chipping
- A defect in which small pieces are missing from the edges; fraying or small pieces of paper missing the edge of a paperback, or...
- Spine
- The outer portion of a book which covers the actual binding. The spine usually faces outward when a book is placed on a shelf....
- Price Clipped
- When a book is described as price-clipped, it indicates that the portion of the dust jacket flap that has the publisher's...
- Jacket
- Sometimes used as another term for dust jacket, a protective and often decorative wrapper, usually made of paper which wraps...
- Heel
- The lower most portion of the spine when the book is standing vertically.
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