Watership Down

by Adams, Richard

Watership Down is an allegorical fantasy novel written by British author Richard Adams, narrating the adventures of a small group of anthropomorphized rabbits as they escape the destruction of their homeland. The story is set in England’s Downs, an idyllic rural home to the small native creatures who possess their own cultures, languages, poetry and mythology. They are soon faced with the settlement of humanity and watch as their land is ravaged by farmland and industrialized commercial advancement. In fear of their lives they leave their homes in hope of finding safety for their family and friends, despite the temptations and perils they are forced to struggle with along the way.

First Edition Identification

MacMillan published the first Edition U.S. hardcover copy in 1972. Characterized by tan cloth binding and tan paper over boards, the spine and cover are stamped in gilt. 

The first UK edition was published by Rex Collings, London, in 1972. Characterized by brown cloth wrapping and folding map, as well as a yellow dust jacket.

Other Collectible or Notable Editions

Penguin Books published a first reprint of the edition in 1976 in London as a hardcover. The copy is illustrated in color and in monochrome, with a fold out colored map at the back. 

The Paradine Press published a Limited edition hardcover in London, 1976. The limited editions are part of a collection of 260 copies, 30 of which have an additional watercolor illustration by John Lawrence to the front free end-paper signed in initials by the artist. The binding (by Sangorski and Sutcliffe) is in sumptuous full crushed green morocco with marbled end-papers, raised bands, all edges gilt, with gilt rabbit motifs to the upper board, gilt corn and rabbit motifs and gilt title to the spine and numerous colored and black and white illustrations throughout by John Lawrence. This deluxe edition has a new fore-word on the genesis of the story by Richard Adams not published elsewhere.

Reviews

Review this book!

On Dec 27, 2016, Anonymous said

After hearing of Richard Adams' death, I turned once again to a book I have long considered to be a best friend. This adventure story pulls you into a world unseen by humans. The characters are human enough to relate to but animal enough to remain rabbits. The story is captivating and relevant. No matter how many times I read it, I can never put it down while reading the last quarter, it's so suspenseful and exciting.

The characters have been beloved of me for many years and I only hope that I have Fiver's insight, Hazel's authority, Bigwig's strength, and Blackberry's wits.

Available Copies

Watership Down
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Watership Down

by Adams, Richard

Condition
Used - Very Good
Jacket Condition
Very Good
Edition
1st Edition 1st Printing
Published
1972
Binding
Hardcover
ISBN 10
0027000303
Quantity Available
1
Seller
Rockville, Maryland, USA
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SGD 266.31

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NY: Macmillan, 1972. 1st Edition 1st Printing. Hardcover. Very Good/Very Good. This classic novel is a rare 1972 MacMillanTrue First/First with a full # line and the correct price of $ 6.95 on the flyleaf and the English reviews and the number 70003 on the rear of the DJ. In VG/VG- condition. The HB has… Read more about this item
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SGD 266.31
Watership Down.

Watership Down.

by Adams, Richard

Condition
Used
Published
1972
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Palm Beach, Florida, USA
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SGD 8,194.20

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Description:
London: Rex Collings, 1972. First edition of the author's first and most beloved work. Octavo, original brown cloth, folding map. Boldly signed the author on the title page, "Yours sincerely Richard Adams." Near fine in a near fine dust jacket. Housed in a custom half morocco clamshell box by Asprey. An exceptional example, uncommon signed. Although Watership Down was… Read more about this item
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SGD 8,194.20
Watership Down
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Watership Down

by Adams, Richard

Condition
Used - Near Fine
Published
1972
Binding
Hardcover
Quantity Available
1
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Westfield, New York, USA
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SGD 2,731.40

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Rex Collings, 1972. Hardcover. Near Fine. 1st printing with a very good unclipped DJ; the DJ has two small tears both at the top and at the bottom of the DJ's spine section; two small pieces of tape have been used at the top of the DJ's spine; inside front board has been decorated by previous owner with… Read more about this item
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SGD 2,731.40
Watership Down (First Edition)

Watership Down (First Edition)

by Richard Adams

Condition
Used
Published
1972
ISBN 10
0027000303
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1
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Baltimore, Maryland, USA
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SGD 477.99

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New York: Macmillan, 1972. First American Edition, preceded by the First UK Edition published by Rex Collings the same year. The author's first book, basis for the 1978 animated film and the 2018 miniseries. Near Fine in a Very Good plus dust jacket. Jacket lightly rubbed, with faint soil at the edges.
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SGD 477.99
Watership Down [SIGNED]
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Watership Down [SIGNED]

by Richard Adams

Condition
Used - Near Fine
Edition
1st Edition
Published
1974
ISBN 10
0027000303
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1
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Tarrington, Herefordshire, GBR
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SGD 2,583.45

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New York: Macmillan Publishing Co., 1974. 1st Edition . Near Fine. 6.25 x 9.25 inches (15.5 x 23.5 cm). Signed by Author. First printing of the first American edition, with full line number to copyright page. Very fine full green morocco leather binding. Spine has five raised bands, gilt lettering and gilt ruled compartments, light patch to title… Read more about this item
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SGD 2,583.45
Watership Down

Watership Down

by Adams, Richard

Condition
Used - Good
Jacket Condition
Good
Edition
First US Edition/First Printing
Published
1974
Binding
Hardcover
ISBN 10
0027000303
Quantity Available
1
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Albany, California, USA
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SGD 109.26

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New York: Macmillan Publishing Co., Inc., 1974. First US Edition/First Printing. Hardcover. Good/Good. Full number line 10-1. In cream boards ad tan spine cloth with rubbing to three corners and heel of spine. Foxing to spine which is somewhat concave from reading. Repair to text block with new spine tape after previous split to middle of book. Binding… Read more about this item
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SGD 109.26
Watership Down.

Watership Down.

by ADAMS, Richard.

Condition
Used
ISBN 10
0713915137
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1
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Sudbury, Suffolk, GBR
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SGD 258.34

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London: Allen Lane / Kestrel Books, 1982. 0713915137. First in this edition, published ten years after the original. Pp.478, owner's name to inside front board, a few spots to closed page edges not affecting pages internally. Dark green cloth. Dustwrapper (illustrated by Pauline Baynes) is price-clipped and has sunning to spine, creasing and small chip to top of spine… Read more about this item
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SGD 258.34
Watership Down

Watership Down

by Adams, Richard

Condition
Used - Very Good
Jacket Condition
No Jacket
Edition
Reprint
Published
1975
Binding
Paperback
ISBN 10
0140039589
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1
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Campbell River, British Columbia, CAN
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SGD 25.88

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London: Penguin Books, 1975. A very nice copy of this classic tale. Interiors are unmarked and just lightly tanned. Covers shows light creasing and age-toning. Spine is lightly creased. A very nice copy.. Reprint. Mass Market Paperback. Very Good/No Jacket. Illus. by Pauline Baynes - Cover Illustration . 12mo - over 6¾" - 7¾" tall.
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SGD 25.88
Watership Down (First UK edition-first impression)
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Watership Down (First UK edition-first impression)

by Adams, Richard

Condition
Used - Near fine
Jacket Condition
Very good
Edition
First UK edition-first impression
Published
1976
Binding
Hardcover
ISBN 10
072265197X
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1
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Southampton, Hampshire, GBR
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SGD 514.97

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Near fine/VGC. Penguin Books and Kestrel Books,1976. First UK edition-first impression. Cream hardback with brown borders (black lettering and illustration to the spine, small nick on the edges of the cover) in near fine condition, with illustrated Dj(small tear and a couple of small creases and nicks on the edges of the Dj cover) in VGC, with an illustrated slipcase(two… Read more about this item
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SGD 514.97
Watership Down

Watership Down

by Richard Adams

Condition
Used - Good
Published
1973
Binding
Paperback
ISBN 10
0140039589
Quantity Available
1
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Wellington, NZL
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SGD 5.73

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Penguin UK. Good. 4.37 x 0.83 x 7.13 inches. Paperback. 1973. 480 pages. Cover worn. Text tanned.<br>Fiver could sense danger. Something terrible was going to happen to the warren - he felt su re of it. So did his brother Hazel, for Fiver's sixth sense was n ever wrong. They had to leave immediately, and they had to persua… Read more about this item
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SGD 5.73
Watership Down
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Watership Down

by Adams, Richard

Condition
Used
Edition
First US Edition
Published
1974
Binding
Hardcover
ISBN 10
0027000303
Quantity Available
1
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Schenectady, New York, USA
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SGD 819.42

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New York: Macmillan Publishing Co., Inc, 1974. First US Edition. Hardcover. 429pp. Full brown calf decorated in blind on the front and rear panels, spine with four raised bands decorated in gold and lettered in gold. The author's first novel. #51 in Modern Fantasy: The Hundred Best Novels, ed. David Pringle, 1989. A fine copy in a particularly attractive… Read more about this item
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SGD 819.42
Watership Down

Watership Down

by Adams, Richard

Condition
Used - Very Good+ in Very Good- dust jacket
Edition
3rd Printing
Published
1974
Binding
Hardcover
ISBN 10
0027000303
Quantity Available
1
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Modesto, California, USA
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SGD 40.97

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New York: MacMillan. Very Good+ in Very Good- dust jacket. 1974. 3rd Printing. Hardcover. 0027000303 . B&W Illustrations; This book is in Very Good+ condition and has a Very Good- dust jacket. The book and its contents are in clean, bright condition. The text pages are clean and bright. The dust jacket has several small edge nicks… Read more about this item
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SGD 40.97
Watership Down
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Watership Down

by Adams, Richard

Condition
Used - Very Good
Jacket Condition
Very Good
Edition
First American Edition
Published
1974
Binding
Hardcover
Quantity Available
1
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Portland, Oregon, USA
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SGD 1,707.12

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New York: Macmillan Publishing Co, 1974. First American Edition. Hardcover. Very Good/Very Good. First American edition, first printing. Signed by Richard Adams on the title page. Bound in publisher's tan paper-covered over tan spine cloth lettered in gilt. Very Good with light general wear, significant lean to binding, former owner name to front free endpaper. In a Very… Read more about this item
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SGD 1,707.12
Watership Down
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Watership Down

by Adams, Richard

Condition
Used - Good
Jacket Condition
Very Good
Edition
First American Edition
Published
1974
Binding
Hardcover
Quantity Available
1
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Portland, Oregon, USA
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SGD 1,365.70

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New York: Macmillan Publishing Co, 1974. First American Edition. Hardcover. Good/Very Good. First American edition, first printing. Signed by Richard Adams on the title page and inscribed to former owners. Bound in publisher's tan paper-covered over tan spine cloth lettered in gilt. Good with lean to binding, soiling to covers and textblock edge, textblock sunken. In a Very… Read more about this item
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SGD 1,365.70
Watership Down.

Watership Down.

by Adams, Richard.

Condition
Used
Edition
First Printing of the First US Edition
Published
1972.
ISBN 10
0027000303
Quantity Available
1
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Langley, Washington, USA
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SGD 546.28

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Adams, Richard. Watership Down. New York: Macmillan, 1972. First Printing of the First US Edition. ISBN: 0027000303. A Fine tight copy in a Fine unclipped dust jacket with a bookplate. Set in the Hampshire Downs in Southern England, an idyllic rural landscape, this timeless classic tale of "suspense, hot pursuit, and derring-do" (Chicago Tribune) follows a band of rabbits… Read more about this item
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SGD 546.28
Watership Down

Watership Down

by Richard Adams

Condition
Used - Very Good
Binding
Hardback
ISBN 10
072265197X
Quantity Available
1
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GORING BY SEA, West Sussex, GBR
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SGD 7.13

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Hardback. Very Good.
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SGD 7.13
Watership Down
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Watership Down

by Adams, Richard

Condition
Used - Very Good
Jacket Condition
Good
Edition
First American Edition
Published
1974-02-28
Binding
Hardcover
ISBN 10
0027000303
Quantity Available
1
Seller
Portland, Oregon, USA
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SGD 1,502.27

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Description:
Macmillan, 1974-02-28. First American Edition. Hardcover. Very Good/Good. 1x6x9. Signed by Author. Please see our photos: book with DJ, signature, and copyright page. A clean, lightly read copy of the first US edition, full number line. Signed by author and dated April 1974. Pages 67-76 have a light bump to the lowest 1" of the… Read more about this item
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SGD 1,502.27
Watership Down

Watership Down

by Richard Adams

Condition
Used - Fair
Published
1973
Binding
Paperback
ISBN 10
0140306013
Quantity Available
1
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Wellington, NZL
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SGD 3.27

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Penguin Books Limited. Fair. 19cm. Paperback. 1973. 478 pages. Cover worn. Insect damage to bottom of pages. Text tan ned.<br>Fiver could sense danger. Something terrible was going to happen to the warren - he felt sure of it. So did his brother Ha zel, for Fiver's sixth sense was never wrong. They had to leave i mmediately, and they… Read more about this item
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SGD 3.27
Watership Down
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Watership Down

by Adams, Richard

Condition
Used - Very Good
Jacket Condition
Very Good
Edition
First American Edition
Published
1974
Binding
Hardcover
Quantity Available
1
Seller
Portland, Oregon, USA
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 5 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
SGD 1,707.12

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Description:
New York: Macmillan Publishing Co, 1974. First American Edition. Hardcover. Very Good/Very Good. First American edition, first printing. Signed by Richard Adams on the title page. Bound in publisher's tan paper-covered over tan spine cloth lettered in gilt. Very Good with textblock sunken, boards lightly soiled and nicked along the top and bottom edges. In a Very Good… Read more about this item
Item Price
SGD 1,707.12
No image available

Watership Down

by Richard Adams

Condition
Used - Very Good Minus
Edition
First Paperback Edition
Published
1975
Binding
Soft Cover
ISBN 10
0380002930
Quantity Available
1
Seller
Long Beach, New York, USA
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SGD 24.58

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New York, NY: AVON BOOKS. Very Good Minus. 1975. First Paperback Edition. Soft Cover. 4 1/4" x 7" 0380002930 PAPERBACK A tale of exile and survival, of heroism and leadership, of a group of adventurers who desert their doomed city, and venture forth against all odds on a quest for a new home and a sturdier future.… Read more about this item
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SGD 24.58