Cannery Row
A first edition, first printing of Cannery Row by John Steinbeck (Viking Press, 1945) is worth about $828 unsigned in near fine condition, based on recorded sales. The first point to check: Copyright page: “First Published by The Viking Press in January 1945”, with no further printing line.
Market value · Unsigned, near fine
$828
Valued from 1 recorded sales in the last 12 months.
What a copy is worth
| Condition | Unsigned |
|---|---|
| Near fine | $828 |
| Very good | $704 |
How to identify this edition
These points tell this edition apart from other printings and editions of Cannery Row.
✓ Copyright page: “First Published by The Viking Press in January 1945”, with no further printing line
✓ Title page: “1945 · The Viking Press · New York”
✓ Binding: light buff cloth (first state) or bright canary yellow cloth (second state), blue lettering and blue rules on the front board — both are the first printing
✓ Dust jacket: night harbour scene, title in yellow script, “Jacket by Arthur Hawkins, Jr.” at the foot of the front flap
✓ Price: $2.00 at the top of the front flap (unclipped); later printings kept it, so the price alone doesn’t prove a first
Common questions
- How do I know if my copy of Cannery Row is a first edition, first printing?
- ✓ Copyright page: “First Published by The Viking Press in January 1945”, with no further printing line ✓ Title page: “1945 · The Viking Press · New York” ✓ Binding: light buff cloth (first state) or bright canary yellow cloth (second state), blue lettering and blue rules on the front board — both are the first printing ✓ Dust jacket: night harbour scene, title in yellow script, “Jacket by Arthur Hawkins, Jr.” at the… The identification points above show each one.
- How much is a first edition, first printing of Cannery Row worth?
- $704–$828 unsigned, depending on condition and whether it is signed (values as of October 2026). Values come from recorded sales of this exact printing, not asking prices.
- Can I sell my copy of Cannery Row?
- Yes. We value the exact copy from recorded sales and make a firm cash offer, free and with no obligation to sell.
Selling a copy?
We value the exact copy from recorded sales and make a firm cash offer, free and with no obligation. Get an offer.
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