On the Road
by Kerouac, Jack
Perhaps
the most famous and influential of the Beat novels, Jack Kerouac's On
the Road represents much of what
made the Beat and Counterculture movements so unique and important.
The plot concerning the road trips and adventures experienced by
Kerouac and his friends is well-known, as are the rumors and tall
tales of the books' production.
Kerouac
often claimed that the wrote On the Road
in a mere three weeks on a single 120-foot scroll of paper. Although
that scroll does indeed exist and is featured in museums, Kerouac
kept detailed journals of his travels that would later become
passages and chapters in the finished product. The book was first
published by Viking in 1957.
Viking
Press would go on to publish an edited version of On the
Road in 2007 to commemorate the
50th
anniversary of the first printing. They substituted the fictional
names for the real Beat protagonists, and they even included some of
the more sexually explicit passages that were edited out of the 1957
edition.
Due to
the cultural significance of the book, true first editions/first
printings of On the Road
are quite valuable. But be warned: it is easy to mistake reprints
or book club editions for the real thing, so always check with an
expert before making a significant purchase.
First Edition Identification
On The Road was first published by Viking in 1957. True first printings of the book include the $3.95 pricing information on the top right hand corner of the front inside dust jacket flap. Later printings and subsequent book club editions do not feature the price in that location. Additionally, a photo of Kerouac is featured on the back inside cover flap along with a brief description of the author.
Reviews
Review this book!
On Sep 3, 2011, billyminersbooks said
A few years ago, 50 years after its initial publication, and 35 years since I had read it for the first time myself, I loaned my battered paperback copy of On The Road to a young friend of mine who had asked me "What should I read next?". Her reaction was, as I would have hoped, overwhelmingly positive. "It made me want to go hitchhiking" she told me. She didn't go, of course, that's considered too dangerous these days, but she caught the spirit of Kerouac from those yellowed old pages and that made me happy. It made me remember myself from the days before I was twenty. When the world was wide-open in front of me with all my limitless imagination and inexhaustible energy to carry me forward. Those two-and-a-half-hundred pages created in a Benzedrine-fueled typing frenzy spoke to both of us across generations as great writing is meant to do. Jack's tales of Casady, Ginsberg, Burroughs, and the rest would continue in his books that followed but the spirit and zest of On The Road stand alone. Bob Dylan said of On The Road, "It changed my life like it changed everyone else's". Myself and my young friend were lucky enough to experience it that same way.
Available Copies
On the Road (Penguin Modern Classics)
by Kerouac, Jack
- Condition
- Used - Very Good
- Binding
- Paperback
- ISBN
- 9780141182674
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
GORING BY SEA, West Sussex, GBR
- Item Price
-
A$1.96
Show Details
Description:
Paperback. Very Good. Item Price
A$1.96
On the Road
by KEROUAC, Jack
- Condition
- Used - Fair
- Jacket Condition
- Fair
- Published
- 1958
- Binding
- Hardcover
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Gloucester City, New Jersey, USA
- Item Price
-
A$1,497.30
Show Details
Description:
(London): Andre Deutsch, 1958. Hardcover. Fair/Fair. First English edition. A worn, fair only copy, bumped at bottom corners, dampstains at the edges of first and last leaf, and other middling flaws, in poor dustwrapper with tape repairs and lacking the majority of the spine. Indeed about the only think to recommend this copy is the ownership signature of… Read more about this item Item Price
A$1,497.30
ON THE ROAD (1STED/W DJ/ FEL IN CASE)
by Kerouac, Jack
- Condition
- Used - Fair in Fine dust jacket
- Edition
- First Edition; First Printing
- Published
- 1957c
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Overland Park, Kansas, USA
- Item Price
-
A$96.08
Show Details
Description:
Viking: NY. Fair in Fine dust jacket. 1957c. First Edition; First Printing. Replica of the original first edition, first issue by Viking Press; presented by: The First Edition Library (An Easton Press Company). Book and priced ($3.95) jacket are housed in publishers illustrated slipcase with publisher's note card laid inside. **CONDITION** please note: book grades only… Read more about this item Item Price
A$96.08
On the Road
by Kerouac, Jack
- Condition
- Used - Good
- Jacket Condition
- N/A
- Edition
- First US Edition Thus/Second Printing
- Published
- 1959
- Binding
- Paperback
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Albany, California, USA
- Item Price
-
A$47.28
Show Details
Description:
New York: Viking Press/Compass Books, 1959. First US Edition Thus/Second Printing. Paperback. Good/N/A. Early trade paperback edition. Split across spine near top, inked out prices to front and back and small stain to front cover. Crease to bottom front corner and 1/2 inch tear to bottom of rear cover. Some soiling to rear cover. Foxing to top page… Read more about this item Item Price
A$47.28
On The Road.
by Kerouac, Jack
- Condition
- Used
- Published
- 1957
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Palm Beach, Florida, USA
- Item Price
-
A$11,820.75
Show Details
Description:
New York: The Viking Press, 1957. First edition of Kerouac's classic novel. Octavo, original black cloth. Near fine in a bright very good dust jacket. Jacket design by Bill English. With the original New York Times article for On the Road laid in. Housed in a custom half morocco clamshell box. A sharp example. The raucous, exuberant, often wildly… Read more about this item Item Price
A$11,820.75
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On The Road
by Kerouac, Jack
- Condition
- Used - Fine
- Jacket Condition
- Fine
- Edition
- first
- Published
- 2007
- Binding
- Brown covers with black cloth spine
- ISBN
- 9780670063550
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
pdx, Oregon, USA
- Item Price
-
A$63.04
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Description:
book is unread.
as new, one owner
text is unmarkedincludes 100 pages of notes and history of scroll-lots of folk lore and dispute about the creation of the book on the road
scroll now at University of IndianaImportant piece of American Literature and life
Item Price
A$63.04
On The Road
by Kerouac, Jack
- Condition
- Used
- Edition
- Facsimile First Edition Library Reprint
- Published
- 1957
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Deep River, Connecticut, USA
- Item Price
-
A$133.97
Show Details
Description:
New York: The Viking Press and by The First Edition Library, 1957. Facsimile First Edition Library Reprint. Fine in black cloth covered boards with white text on the spine and front board. An octavo measuring 8" by 5 1/4". In a very near fine facsimile, first issue, unclipped dust jacket with very light rubbing to the colors at… Read more about this item Item Price
A$133.97
On the Road: The Original Scroll
by Kerouac, Jack
- Condition
- Used - Near Fine
- Jacket Condition
- Near Fine
- Edition
- First US Edition Thus/First Printing
- Published
- 2007
- Binding
- Hardcover
- ISBN
- 9780670063550
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Albany, California, USA
- Item Price
-
A$78.80
Show Details
Description:
New York: Viking , 2007. First US Edition Thus/First Printing. Hardcover. Near Fine/Near Fine. Full number line 10-1. In yellow boards with black spine and gilt. Jacket unclipped with minimal wear typical to jacket material used. A very nice copy. Item Price
A$78.80
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On the Road
by Kerouac, Jack
- Condition
- Used - Near Fine
- Jacket Condition
- Near Fine
- Edition
- Third Printing
- Published
- 1957
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Portland, Oregon, USA
- Item Price
-
A$55,163.50
Show Details
Description:
New York: The Viking Press, 1957. Third Printing. Near Fine/Near Fine. Third printing of the first edition. Signed by Jack Kerouac on the front free endpaper and inscribed "To Don--- / from / Jack Kerouac / I'm really happy / that you came to the / party Henri threw for me!" Henri was one of Kerouac's oldest friends,… Read more about this item Item Price
A$55,163.50
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On the Road (Penguin Modern Classics)
by Jack Kerouac
- Condition
- Used
- Published
- February 24, 2000
- ISBN
- 9780141182674
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Portsmouth, Hampshire, GBR
- Item Price
-
A$19.59
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Description:
Penguin Modern Classics paperback in good condition,with creasing to spine and wear to cover. No inscription or other writing throughout A more than acceptable reading copy. Postcard of author in mint condition. Item Price
A$19.59
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On the Road
by Jack Kerouac
- Condition
- Used - Near Fine
- Jacket Condition
- Very Good Indeed
- Published
- 1959
- Binding
- Cloth
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
BATH, Somerset, GBR
- Item Price
-
A$1,511.82
Show Details
Description:
London: Andre Deutsch, 1959. Cloth. Near Fine/Very Good Indeed. 7.5" by 5" . None . A bright third impression of Jack Kerouac's iconic semi-autobiographical novel in the original unclipped dust wrapper. The first UK edition, third impression of this work, published the year following the first edition. Jack Kerouac's post-war Beat and Counterculture generation defining work based on… Read more about this item Item Price
A$1,511.82
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On the Road
by Jack Kerouac
- Condition
- Used
- Edition
- First Edition
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Mississauga, Ontario, CAN
- Item Price
-
A$19,701.25
Show Details
Description:
1957: Viking Press. First Edition . First Edition/First Printing. Hardcover. Fine book in a near fine Dust Jacket, with slight wear. Jacket priced at $3.95. Bright unrubbed copy and the cornerstone of Beat literature. Uncommon in this condition. Housed in a clamshell case.
Item Price
A$19,701.25
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On the Road
by Kerouac, Jack
- Condition
- Used
- Edition
- First Edition, First Printing
- Published
- 1957
- Binding
- Hardcover
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
CROTON-ON-HUDSON, New York, USA
- Item Price
-
A$5,516.35
Show Details
Description:
New York: Viking Press, 1957. First Edition, First Printing. Hardcover. Condition is Very Good, bound in full black cloth; with a Very Good, original first issue dust jacket. Edge wear to jacket, including a few small chips and short tears. Crease to base of jacket at front panel. No markings to text. Binding firm. 8vo, 8 1/4"h x 6"w.… Read more about this item Item Price
A$5,516.35
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On the Road (Penguin Classics)
by Kerouac, Jack
- Condition
- Used - Collectable - Good Condition
- Edition
- First Edition
- Published
- 2012
- Binding
- Hardback
- ISBN
- 9780141198200
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, GBR
- Item Price
-
A$201.25
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Description:
Penguin Classics, London, United Kingdom, 2012. First Edition. Hardback. Collectable - Good Condition. Good+ 1st impression 2012 Penguin Classics hardback, with rear cover reproduction of the first proposed paperback edition cover design from 1952. Some yellowing to pages and patches of foxing to page edges, base of spine bumped, tight and unmarked otherwise. Size: 144\nx… Read more about this item Item Price
A$201.25
On the Road
by Kerouac, Jack
- Condition
- Used - Good
- ISBN
- 9780140185218
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Dunfermline, Fife, GBR
- Item Price
-
A$11.43
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Description:
Penguin Publishing Group. Used - Good. Ships from the UK. Used book that is in clean, average condition without any missing pages. Item Price
A$11.43
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On The Road
by Kerouac, Jack
- Condition
- Used - Fine
- Jacket Condition
- Very Good
- Edition
- 1st Edition
- Published
- 1957
- Binding
- Hardcover
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Beverly Hills, California, USA
- Item Price
-
A$7,092.45
Show Details
Description:
The Viking Press, 1957. 1st Edition. Hardcover. Fine/Very Good. Fine in a very good dust jacket. First edition with no mention of later printings on the copyright page. Jacket has original price of $3.95 printed on front flap; very good with some chipping and rubbing along edges and at corners. Book fine. Comes housed in a custom slipcase.… Read more about this item Item Price
A$7,092.45
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On the Road
by Jack Kerouac
- Condition
- Used - Very Good
- Jacket Condition
- Very Good
- Edition
- First Edition
- Published
- 1957
- Binding
- Hardcover
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Southampton, New York, USA
- Item Price
-
A$8,668.53
Show Details
Description:
Viking, 1957. First Edition. Hardcover. Used - Very Good/Very Good. Stated First Edition, First Printing. Not price-clipped ($3.95 price intact). Published by Viking, 1957. Octavo. Black cloth boards stamped in white with red topstain. Book is very good plus with spine straight and sharp corners. Binding tight and pages crisp. Has a light erasure mark on flyleaf and… Read more about this item Item Price
A$8,668.53
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ON THE ROAD
by Kerouac, Jack
- Condition
- Used
- Edition
- First
- Published
- 1958
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
PASADENA, California, USA
- Item Price
-
A$1,891.32
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Description:
A very good first edition in dust jacket Item Price
A$1,891.32
On the Road
by Kerouac, Jack
- Condition
- Used - Good
- Published
- 2008
- Binding
- Paperback
- ISBN
- 9780141037486
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Forrestfield, Western Australia, AUS
- Item Price
-
A$5.50
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Description:
England: Penguin, 2008. Book. Good. Soft cover. Spine is uncreased, covers faded and dirty. Where possible small books will have postage reduced. Item Price
A$5.50
On the Road (Penguin Modern Classics)
by Jack Kerouac
- Condition
- Used; Good
- Binding
- Paperback
- ISBN
- 9780141182674
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Milton Keynes , Buckinghamshire, GBR
- Item Price
-
A$6.83
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Description:
Penguin Classics. Paperback. Used; Good. Simply Brit welcome to our online used book store, where affordability meets great quality. Dive into a world of captivating reads without breaking the bank. We take pride in offering a wide selection of used books, from classics to hidden gems, ensuring theres something for every literary palate. All orders are shipped… Read more about this item Item Price
A$6.83