The Old Man and the Sea - Ernest Hemingway 1952 - Charles Scribner's Sons, New York - First Edition, First Issue ‘I am a strange old man’.

‘But are you strong enough now for a truly big fish?’

‘I think so. And there are many tricks’.

A bright first edition, housed in custom blue cloth clamshell box with swordfish design and navy spine label lettered in gilt.
  Hemingway was in his element in the thick of conflict between man and man or man and beast. Seeing action in the First World War, the Spanish civil war, the second world war, big game hunting in Africa, and one of his most consuming passions, marlin fishing in Key West and Cuba from his boat, the Pilar. The captain of the Pilar, Gregorio Fuentes, is widely acknowledged to have been a model for the Old Man.

After 12 years in literary wilderness, the release of
The Old Man and the Sea led to many awards, including the Pulitzer Prize in 1952, and the Nobel Prize in 1954.

First issue with publisher's seal and "A" on copyright page, dust jacket with the photograph of Hemingway on the rear panel printed with a blue hue which historically was recognised as an earlier issue, with the second issue being changed to olive green, but this has now been questioned, with the main issue point being the front flap showing a price of $3.00 to the upper corner and statement ‘jacket design by A.’ to lower edge, all of which are correct on this copy.

Reference: Hanneman A24a. Grissom A24 1a.

Octavo (book size 21.1x14.7cm), pp. [2] 140 [2]. Publisher's pale blue cloth, spine lettered in silver, Hemingway’s signature stamped in blind to front board, dust jacket priced ‘$3.00’ to upper corner of front flap.
  Condition: Near fine, light toning along top edge, small purple stain to rear pastedown, some rubbing of lettering to spine, in near fine dust jacket, hint of toning to spine, minor wear to corners a little more so to spine ends, light creasing to front flap.   Ref: 111716   Price: HK$ 25,000