Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea(s)

First US Editions Identification

vs

Image Edition Date on 
Title Page		 Publisher Spine Cover Image
SEA vs SEAS		 "The End" 
on Page 303
1st:
Osgood
Variant B		 1873 James R. Osgood James R. Osgood Nemo
"SEA"		 Yes
1st
Osgood
Variant C		 1873 Sampson Low
London		 James R. Osgood

Nemo
"SEA"

 Yes
1st
Osgood
Variant A		 1873 James R. Osgood James R. Osgood Jellyfish
"SEA"		 Yes
1st
Smith 		1873 Geo. M. Smith Geo. M. Smith Nemo
"SEAS"		 Yes
1st
Smith
later ed.		 1873 Geo. M. Smith Geo. M. Smith Nemo
"SEAS"		 No
2nd
Smith 		1874 Geo. M. Smith Geo. M. Smith Nemo
"SEAS"		 Yes
3rd
Smith		 1875 Geo. M. Smith Geo. M. Smith Nemo
"SEAS"		 Yes

1st US Edition: Variant A
most common of the "rare" 1st editions

1873 - James R. Osgood, Boston

The first US edition of Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea is very interesting. It is very difficult to obtain and it is said that only 15 - 20 copies are known. (NOTE: This number may be a bit low, as quite a few "unknown" copies have been sold on Ebay and at traditional auctions lately)
The 1873 edition by James R. Osgood was actually published in November 1872 using the same sheets as the Sampson Low British edition. 
This volume has the title Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea on the cover and Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Seas. on the title page. 
The cover illustration is an image of Jelly Fish in a disc in the center of the cover.
The bottom of the spine names the publisher J. R. Osgood & Co 
It is known in Blue, Green and Salmon coloured cloth.
 

The title page layout is:

TWENTY THOUSAND LEAGUES
UNDER THE SEAS.

TRANSLATED FROM THE FRENCH OF 
JULES VERNE.

BOSTON:
JAMES R. OSGOOD AND COMPANY,
(Late Ticknor & Fields, and Fields, Osgood, & Co.)
1873. 

The cover illustration is that of Jellyfish.

The pages edges are natural, not gilt

The text in the book concludes on page 303 with the words "THE END"

1st US Edition: Variant B
equally as rare as Variant C

1873 - James R. Osgood, Boston

Same features as JellyFish above EXCEPT has Nemo on the cover, and the cover has less gilt

1st US Edition: Variant C
equally as rare as Variant B

1873 - Sampson Low, London (with James R. Osgood at base of spine)

2nd US Edition:

1873 - Geo. M. Smith & Co.
(2 Variants = "THE END" on page 303 AND  no "THE END" on page 303)

The more common 1873 edition is published by Geo. M. Smith & Co. Boston.
This volume has the title Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Seas on the cover as well as on the title page.

The cover illustration is an image of Captain Nemo using a Sextant in a disc in the center of the cover.

 

The title page layout is:

TWENTY THOUSAND LEAGUES
UNDER THE SEAS;
OR,
 THE MARVELLOUS AND EXCITING ADVENTURES OF
PIERRE ARONNAX, CONSEIL HIS SERVANT, AND
NED LAND, A CANADIAN HARPOONER.

TRANSLATED FROM THE FRENCH OF
JULES VERNE

One Hundred and Ten Illustrations

(EDITION OF JAMES R. OSGOOD & Co.)

SOLD ONLY BY SUBSCRIPTION.

BOSTON:
GEO. M. SMITH & CO.
1873.

The first printings of this 1873 book by Geo. M. Smith, conclude on page 303 with the words "THE END"
Later printings of the 1873 edition, no longer have the words "THE END"

Near identical editions exist with the dates 1873, 1874 and 1875

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