Silent Spring

by Carson, Rachel

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.

First Edition Identification

The first edition of Silent Spring was published in 1962 by Houghton Mifflin Co. The book has a green dust jacket with a $5.00 price stamp, green boards, and 'First Printing' on the copyright page. A Book of the Month Club issued in 1962 looks similar but does not have printings on the copyright page, and the dust jacket bears Book of the Month Club instead of price point.

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Silent Spring
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Silent Spring

by Carson, Rachel

Condition
Used - Fine
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Near Fine
Edition
First Edition
Published
1962
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Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company, 1962. First Edition. Fine/Near Fine. First edition, first printing stated. A review copy, with publisher's slip laid in. Bound in publisher's dark green cloth stamped in gilt, with yellow topstain. About Fine, with light foxing to textblock edge and faint rubbing to cloth at tips. In a Near Fine unclipped dust jacket with light… Read more about this item
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Silent Spring.

Silent Spring.

by Carson, Rachel

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Published
1962
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Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company, 1962. First edition of Carson's landmark work. Octavo, bound in half morocco, gilt titles to the spine, raised bands. Drawings by Lois and Louis Darling. In fine condition. In the late 1950s, Carson turned her attention to conservation, especially environmental problems that she believed were caused by synthetic pesticides. The result was Silent Spring, which… Read more about this item
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Silent Spring
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Silent Spring

by Carson, Rachel

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Published
1963
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London: Hamish Hamilton, 1963. First edition, first printing. Published by Hamish Hamilton in London, 1963. This is a very good copy. The dust wrapper has not been price clipped. It is sunned at the spine, as is usual with this title, with slight chipping present on both edges. There are slight handling marks throughout. There is a previous owner's… Read more about this item
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Silent Spring
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Silent Spring

by Carson, Rachel; [Alfred Eisenstaedt]

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Near Fine
Edition
First Edition
Published
1962
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Portland, Oregon, USA
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Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company, 1962. First Edition. Near Fine/Near Fine. First edition, first printing of Rachel Carson's extremely influential work, which is credited with creating a worldwide awareness of the dangers of man-made environmental pollution. An important and fantastic association copy, signed and inscribed by Carson on the half title page dated one week before publication, "For Alfred… Read more about this item
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Silent Spring

Silent Spring

by Carson, Rachel; Drawings By Lois And Louis Darling

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Used - Near Fine Book
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Very Good
Edition
First Edition Stated
Published
1962
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Hardcover
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Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company, 1962. First Edition Stated . Hardcover. Near Fine Book/Very Good. 368 Pp. True First Edition, With "First Printing" Stated On Copyright Page, 1962 Date On Title Page, No Book Club Dot On Rear Cover, And $5.00 Publication Price Printed On Front Flap. The Most Influential Popular Book On Environmental Awareness. A… Read more about this item
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Silent Spring

Silent Spring

by Carson, Rachel

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Used - Good
Published
1970
Binding
ISBN 10
0449238717
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Maplewood, Missouri, USA
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Fawcett Crest, 1970. Good mass market paperback, . Mass Market Paper Back. Good.
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Silent Spring

by Carson, Rachel

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Used - Near Fine
Jacket Condition
Very Good
Edition
1st Edition
Published
1962
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Hardcover
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Boston: Houghton Mifflin. Original green cloth. First Edition. The book that launched the modern environmentalist movement and one of the most important nonfiction works of its century. Signed in ink in two places by previous owner, Near Fine in Very Good price-clipped Dust Jacket with minor chipping and edge wear. . Near Fine. Hardcover. 1st Edition. 1962.
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Silent Spring.

Silent Spring.

by Carson, Rachel

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Published
2002
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New York: Mariner Books, 2002. Early printing of the 40th anniversary edition author's classic work. Octavo, original illustrated wrappers. Signed by Edward O. Wilson on the title page. Drawings by Lois and Louis Darling. Afterword by Edward O. Wilson. Introduction by Linda Lear. In fine condition. In the late 1950s, Carson turned her attention to conservation, especially environmental problems… Read more about this item
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Silent Spring
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Silent Spring

by Carson, Rachel

Condition
Used - Original green cloth. Fine fresh copy copy in near fine jacket (scuff at head of spine)
Edition
First edition
Published
1962
Binding
Illustrated with drawings by Lois and Louis Darling. 368 pp. 1 vols. 8vo
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New York, New York, USA
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Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1962. First edition. Illustrated with drawings by Lois and Louis Darling. 368 pp. 1 vols. 8vo. Original green cloth. Fine fresh copy copy in near fine jacket (scuff at head of spine). First edition. Illustrated with drawings by Lois and Louis Darling. 368 pp. 1 vols. 8vo. Nice copy of a landmark work in the… Read more about this item
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Silent Spring

Silent Spring

by Rachel Carson

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Used - Good
Published
1982
Binding
Mass Market Paperback
ISBN 10
0449200795
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Seattle, Washington, USA
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Random House Publishing Group, 1982. Mass Market Paperback. Good. Pages can have notes/highlighting. Spine may show signs of wear. ~ ThriftBooks: Read More, Spend Less.Dust jacket quality is not guaranteed.
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Silent Spring.
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Silent Spring.

by CARSON, Rachel.

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Published
1962
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London, GBR
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Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company,, 1962. The book that ignited the environmental movement First edition, first printing, of Carson's indictment of the pesticide industry; it was of enormous consequence to the grassroots environmental movement, the deep ecology movement, and the rise of ecofeminism. Carson, a nature writer and editor-in-chief for the Fish and Wildlife Service, had long been concerned about… Read more about this item
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SILENT SPRING

SILENT SPRING

by Rachel Carson

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Used
Edition
First Edition; Second Printing
Published
1962
Binding
Hardcover
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Pomona, New York, USA
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Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company. 1962. First Edition; Second Printing. Hardcover. Very Good+ in a Very Good dust jacket. Owner name on FEP. 3 inch closed tear at bottom of rear panel. 1 inch open tear at bottom of front panel. .
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Silent Spring
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Silent Spring

by Carson, Rachel

Condition
Used - near fine: yellow top stain as normal, gift inscription to initial recipient on top of half title page, author signature
Jacket Condition
very good: small closed tear at base of spine, some chipping and rubbing and slightly faded
Edition
first
Published
1962
Binding
Hardcover
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Chattanooga, Tennessee, USA
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Houghton Mifflin Company, 1962. first. hardcover. near fine: yellow top stain as normal, gift inscription to initial recipient on top of half title page, author signature "With best wishes, Rachel Carson" text otherwise clean, binding tight./very good: small closed tear at base of spine, some chipping and rubbing and slightly faded. Lois and Louis Darling. Stated first edition first printing… Read more about this item
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Silent Spring

Silent Spring

by Carson, Rachel

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Used - Near Fine
Published
1962
Binding
Hardcover
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South Pasadena, California, USA
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Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1962. Hardcover. Near Fine. Hardcover in blue cloth boards with title stamped in gilt on front and spine. No dust jacket. Early printing of this iconic and influential book that was the first to sound the alarm on environmental devastation. Crisp and clean condition, with tight binding and sharp corners. Patterned endpapers. 8vo. 368 pp.… Read more about this item
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SILENT SPRING

SILENT SPRING

by Carson, Rachel (introduction by Al Gore)

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Used - Very Good
Edition
Later Printing
Published
1994
Binding
Paperback
ISBN 10
0395683297
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Burlington, Ontario, CAN
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New York: Houghton Mifflin, 1994. Book. Illus. by Lois Darling; Louis Darling;. Very Good. Soft cover. Later Printing. 8vo. (xxvi) 368 pp. Trade paperback format. Light edge and corner wear with a flat uncreased spine; clipped along the upper edge of the front endpaper; no other interior markings. Illustrated with line drawings by Lois and Louis… Read more about this item
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Silent Spring (Fawcett Crest MM Paperback M1268)

Silent Spring (Fawcett Crest MM Paperback M1268)

by Carson, Rachel

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Used - Good+.
Published
1962-01-01
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Mass Market Paperback
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Long Beach, California, USA
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non applicable, 1962-01-01. Mass Market Paperback. Good+. . GOOD+. white illustrated mass market paperback with dark red and blue covers, bagged for protection, very light shelf wear, tightly bound, no loose or missing pages..<p> Once Read Books, cover scan available - just ask, OnceReadBooks com<p> Orders shipped via USPS.
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Silent Spring

by Carson, Rachel

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Used - Very Good
Edition
Later Printing.
Published
2022
Binding
Soft cover
ISBN 10
0618249060
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Baltimore, Maryland, USA
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Mariner Books Classics, 2022. Later Printing. . Soft cover. Very Good. 8vo - over 7¾ - 9¾" tall. 378pp.
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Silent Spring

by Carson, Rachel

Condition
Used - Fine
Jacket Condition
Near Fine
Edition
1st Edition
Published
1962
Binding
Hardcover
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Garrison, New York, USA
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Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company. DJ in archival cover price clipped. . Fine. Hardcover. 1st Edition. 1962.
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Silent Spring
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Silent Spring

by Carson, Rachel

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Used
Published
1991
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Leather
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Schenectady, New York, USA
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Decorative leather binding. 1991. Illustrated by Lois and Louis Darling. 368 pages including a List of Principal Sources and an Index. Fine condition.
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Silent Spring.

Silent Spring.

by Carson, Rachel

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Used
Published
1962
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Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company, 1962. First edition of Carson's landmark work. Octavo, original green cloth. Near fine in a near fine dust jacket. Drawings by Lois and Louis Darling. In the late 1950s, Carson turned her attention to conservation, especially environmental problems that she believed were caused by synthetic pesticides. The result was Silent Spring, which brought environmental concerns… Read more about this item
Item Price
A$1,165.58