Invisible Man

by Ellison, Ralph

Even though Ralph Ellison's novel Invisible Man is sometimes featured on banned books lists, it remains a consistent staple on many high school reading curriculums. In the novel, Ellison laments the feeling of hopelessness and invisibility that many Black men experience in the United States, and it elegantly explores the themes of racism and bigotry in ways that are both unsettling and accessible.

First Edition Identification

Invisible Man was first published in 1952 by Random House for the price of $3.50. The classic dust jacket featured the outline of a man centered in what may be a scope of some kind, contradicting the inherent notion of invisibility. The author's picture is featured on the back dust jacket cover. True first printings are easy to identify, as the text “First Printing” is clearly visible on the copyright page. Some believe the presence of “A.B” on the bottom of the copyright page is indicative of a first printing, but that text has also been found on other printings as well. So if you believe you have a true first printing of Invisible Man, always check the top of the copyright page for the distinctive “First Printing” text. Additionally, when you remove the dust jacket of first editions, you will see an illustration on the top half and spine of the Random House boards. Like many Random House first printings, the pricing information of Invisible Man can be found at the top right-hand corner of the inside dust jacket flap. That information may not be included in later printings or subsequent book club editions.

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Invisible Man.

Invisible Man.

by Ellison, Ralph

Condition
Used
Published
1952
Quantity Available
1
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Palm Beach, Florida, USA
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A$12,638.66

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New York: Random House, 1952. First edition of the author's landmark first novel, which went on to win the National Book Award. Octavo, original black and tan cloth. Boldly signed by Ralph Ellison on the title page. Fine in an near fine price-clipped dust jacket with a touch of rubbing. Jacket design by E. McKnight Kauffer. Housed in a… Read more about this item
Item Price
A$12,638.66
INVISIBLE MAN

INVISIBLE MAN

by ELLISON, RALPH

Condition
Used - NEAR FINE IN A VERY GOOD+ D.J.
Edition
FIRST EDITION
Published
PUB 1952
Binding
HARDCOVER
Quantity Available
1
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BURLINGTON, Wisconsin, USA
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A$7,321.17

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NEW YORK NY: RANDOM HOUSE. NEAR FINE IN A VERY GOOD+ D.J.. PUB 1952. FIRST EDITION. HARDCOVER. FIRST WINNER OF THE NATIONAL BOOK AWARD / A TWENTIETH CENTURY HIGHSPOT AND A CLASSIC OF AMERICAN LITERATURE . OTHER THAN MODEST PERISHING OF THE SPINE TITLES THE BOOK IS FINE WITHOUT ANY MARKS TO THE BINDING OR THE TEXT. D.J. IS… Read more about this item
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A$7,321.17
Invisible Man
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Invisible Man

by Ellison, Ralph

Condition
Used - Near Fine
Jacket Condition
Very Good in Archival Plastic
Edition
First Edition, First Printing
Published
1952
Binding
Cloth
Quantity Available
1
Seller
SANDY, Oregon, USA
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Item Price
A$9,532.94

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New York: Random House, 1952. First Edition, First Printing. Cloth. Near Fine/Very Good in Archival Plastic. A wonderful First Edition, First Printing (so stated) of Ralph Ellison's classic work, signed and dated by the author on the title page, "Ralph Ellison, April 4, 1986." In beige and black cloth with white titling, the book is in near fine… Read more about this item
Item Price
A$9,532.94
Invisible Man
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Invisible Man

by Ellison, Ralph

Condition
Used - Good
Jacket Condition
Good
Edition
First Edition
Published
1952
Quantity Available
1
Seller
Portland, Oregon, USA
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Item Price
A$1,541.30

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New York: Random House, 1952. First Edition. Good/Good. First edition, stated first printing. Good, with cloth marked and worn, abraded effaced patches to front free endpaper, bookplate removal evidence to front pastedown, large bookstore ink stamp to dedication page. In a Good dust jacket with price of $3.50 intact; tattered and chipped, with tape repairs visible from the… Read more about this item
Item Price
A$1,541.30
Invisible Man (Facsimile in Shrink-wrapped Slipcase)
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Invisible Man (Facsimile in Shrink-wrapped Slipcase)

by Ralph Ellison

Condition
Used - Fine
Jacket Condition
Fine
Edition
First Thus
Quantity Available
1
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Carrollton, Texas, USA
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Item Price
A$231.18

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Shrink-wrapped slipcase with hardcover book inside. Front of slipcase shows image from front dust jacket with author's name, book title, and drawing of man's face. Back of slipcase has picture of author. Book and dust jacket are presumed to be overall in Fine condition since book and slipcase are still shrink-wrapped. First Edition Library presumed First Edition, First Printing since… Read more about this item
Item Price
A$231.18
Invisible Man
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Invisible Man

by Ellison, Ralph

Condition
Used - Very good
Jacket Condition
very good
Edition
First Edition
Published
1952
Binding
Cloth
Quantity Available
1
Seller
Atlanta, Georgia, USA
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Item Price
A$3,843.62

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New York: Random House, 1952. First Edition. Cloth. Very good/very good. First edition in slip case. Note signed by Ellison included.
Item Price
A$3,843.62
INVISIBLE MAN
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INVISIBLE MAN

by Ellison, Ralph

Condition
Used
Published
(1952)
Quantity Available
1
Seller
Middletown, Maryland, USA
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A$3,467.92

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New York: Random House, (1952). First edition. His National Award-winning first book. Ranked 19th on the Modern Library list of the 100 best English-language novels of the 20th century and one of Time Magazine's 100 Best English-language Novels from 1923 to 2005. Anthony Burgess called it "a masterpiece." Crisp and near fine with just a faint shadow from item… Read more about this item
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A$3,467.92
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INVISIBLE MAN

by ELLISON, Ralph

Condition
Used
Edition
First Paperback edition
Published
1972
ISBN 10
0394717155
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1
Seller
Lanesborough, Massachusetts, USA
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Item Price
A$678.17

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Description:
NY: Vintage, 1972. First Paperback edition. Small 8vo, pp. 568. Author's presentation on title; "For Joe Reed & family on | a most important occasion -- | With gratitude, | Ralph Ellison" Paper wraps. Ink markings on front edges, cover creased and scuffed, but a VG tight copy.
Item Price
A$678.17
Invisible Man (Penguin Modern Classics)

Invisible Man (Penguin Modern Classics)

by Ellison, Ralph

Condition
Used - Very Good
Binding
Paperback
ISBN 10
0141184426
Quantity Available
1
Seller
GORING BY SEA, West Sussex, GBR
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Item Price
A$5.80

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Description:
Paperback. Very Good.
Item Price
A$5.80
Invisible Man - Original first UK edition

Invisible Man - Original first UK edition

by Ellison, Ralph

Condition
Used
Published
1953
Quantity Available
1
Seller
Harrogate, North Yorkshire, GBR
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Item Price
A$884.56

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Description:
London: Gollancz, 1953. A first edition, first printing published by Gollancz in 1953. A very good+ book with one name to the front pastedown and to the corner of the ffep. Some browning to spine ends. A very solid copy without marks, stains or inscriptions. In a dust wrapper which is unclipped and has benefitted from some restoration to… Read more about this item
Item Price
A$884.56
INVISIBLE MAN
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INVISIBLE MAN

by Ellison, Ralph

Condition
Used
Edition
First Edition, First Printing
Published
1952
Binding
Hardcover
Quantity Available
1
Seller
Rockville, Maryland, USA
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Item Price
A$1,541.30

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Description:
New York: Random House, 1952. First Edition, First Printing. Hardcover. Octavo, 439 pages. In Very Good minus condition with a Good plus dust jacket. Spine black with white and yellow lettering. Dust jacket protected in mylar covering, with price uncut: "$3.50." Mild shelfwear. Rubbing and chipping to front and rear covers. Non-archival tape adhered to inside of dust jacket.… Read more about this item
Item Price
A$1,541.30
Invisible Man (Collector's Edition)

Invisible Man (Collector's Edition)

by Ellison, Ralph

Condition
Used
Published
1999
Binding
Hardcover
Quantity Available
1
Seller
Elkins Park, Pennsylvania, USA
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Item Price
A$308.26

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Norwalk, Connecticut: The Easton Press, 1999. As New in chocolate-brown morocco, lushly gilt-stamped on all sides. Raised bands on the spine. All page-edges gilt. Salmon-colored moire silk endpapers with a matching ribbon bookmark. 439pps. A flawless collector's-quality copy: clean, tight, square, and bright. All tips are sharp. Yet to be read. Includes The Easton Press Great Books of The Twentieth… Read more about this item
Item Price
A$308.26
Invisible Man

Invisible Man

by ELLISON, Ralph

Condition
Used
Published
1994
Binding
Hardcover
ISBN 10
0679601392
Quantity Available
1
Seller
Galena, Illinois, USA
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Item Price
A$53.95

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New York: The Modern Library, 1994. Hardcover. Preface by Charles Johnson. Small 8vo. Grey cloth with gilt spine lettering, pictorial dust jacket. xxxiv, 572pp. Decorative endpapers. Fine/fine. Modern Library first issued their edition of Ellison's classic 1952 first novel in 1963, and this went through umpteen printings. This tight and bright copy is the first edition of "The Commemorative… Read more about this item
Item Price
A$53.95
Invisible Man
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Invisible Man

by Ellison, Ralph

Condition
Used - Near Fine
Jacket Condition
Very Good++
Edition
First UK Edition
Published
1953
Quantity Available
1
Seller
Market Harborough, Leicestershire, GBR
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Item Price
A$2,457.12

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Description:
The First UK printing published by Victor Gollancz in 1953. The BOOK is in near Fine condition with light pushing at the spine tips. The gilt titling remains bright. One or two very tiny spots to the text-block. Internally clean and appears unread. The fragile WRAPPER is complete and is in Very Good++ or better condition. Mild edge wear at… Read more about this item
Item Price
A$2,457.12
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Invisible Man.

by Ellison, Ralph. (Text) Harmuth, Will. (Illustrations)

Condition
Used - Fine with no dust jacket
Edition
SIGNED LIMITED EDITION
Published
1980
Binding
Leather Binding.
Quantity Available
1
Seller
Santa Monica, California, USA
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A$924.78

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Franklin Library.. Fine with no dust jacket. 1980. SIGNED LIMITED EDITION. Leather Binding.. SIGNED limited edition. Fine in red leather binding with gilt edges & satin marker ribbon, without dust jacket as issued. Author's groundbreaking FIRST book. ; 8vo 8" - 9" tall .
Item Price
A$924.78
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Invisible Man

by Ellison, Ralph

Condition
Used - Very Good
Edition
Special 30th anniversary ed
Published
1982-03-12
Binding
Hardcover
ISBN 10
0394525493
Quantity Available
1
Seller
Burlington, Vermont, USA
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Item Price
A$46.24

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Description:
Random House, 1982-03-12. Special 30th anniversary ed. Hardcover. Very Good. Hardcover. Very Good / Very Good Mylar protected dust jacket. Free of any markings and no writings inside. Clear text. Foxing on top edge. For any additional information or pictures, please inquire.
Item Price
A$46.24
Invisible Man

Invisible Man

by ELLISON, Ralph

Condition
Used
Edition
First British edition
Published
1953
Binding
Hardcover
Quantity Available
1
Seller
Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA
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Item Price
A$1,001.84

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Description:
London: Gollancz, 1953. First British edition. Hardcover. Hardcover. First British edition. The first British edition of Ellison's classic work, published a year after the U.S. edition. A near fine, price-clipped book in a very good dust jacket. Bound in the publisher's original red cloth, spine stamped in gilt. Some soiling to the uncoated and iconic Gollancz jacket. Sunning to… Read more about this item
Item Price
A$1,001.84
Invisible Man
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Invisible Man

by Ellison, Ralph

Condition
Used - Fine
Jacket Condition
very good +
Edition
[First Modern Library Edition]
Published
1952
Binding
Hardcover
ISBN 10
029596569X
Quantity Available
1
Seller
Sisters, Oregon, USA
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Item Price
A$500.92

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Description:
New York: Modern Library, 1952. [First Modern Library Edition]. Hardcover. Fine/very good +. Short 8vo., blue cloth blind-stamped front cover with Modern Library logo, spine lettered in silver. Dust jacket price $1.95, no isbn number, rear cover of jacket without presence of Malamud in "Other Titles in the Modern Library of special interest to readers of Invisible Man".-toledano… Read more about this item
Item Price
A$500.92
Invisible Man
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Invisible Man

by Ellison, Ralph

Condition
Used - near fine
Jacket Condition
very good
Edition
first
Published
1952
Binding
Hardcover
Quantity Available
1
Seller
Beverly Hills, California, USA
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Item Price
A$1,387.17

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Description:
Random House, 1952. first. hardcover. near fine/very good. First printing, as stated on copyright page. In later, price-clipped dust jacket. Book near fine, small tear to upper left of half-title page, lettering on spine faded. Dust jacket very good.
Item Price
A$1,387.17
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Invisible Man

by Ellison, Ralph

Condition
Used - Very Good
Jacket Condition
Very Good
Published
1952
Binding
Hardcover
Quantity Available
1
Seller
GIG HARBOR, Washington, USA
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Item Price
A$100.18

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Description:
Random House, 1952. Hardcover. Very Good/Very Good. Later printing, code B9 on copyright page. Ad for Ellison's second book, "Shadow and Act" on back of jacket, so post 1964. Very good book in like jacket with some wear and shallow chipping to spine ends and corners. Price of $12.50 in tact on jacket.
Item Price
A$100.18