The points of issue
First printing of this slim novella, presented as a single after-dinner monologue, in paper-covered boards with cloth spine and dust jacket. The copyright page of the first printing carries no later-printing statement.
Is this the true first?
US first (Random House, New York, 1956).
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Later printings and reprints are identified by a printing statement added to the copyright page; the first printing carries none.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of A Family Party a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First printing of this slim novella, presented as a single after-dinner monologue, in paper-covered boards with cloth spine and dust jacket. The copyright page of the first printing carries no later-printing statement.
How do I tell the first printing from a later one?
Check the copyright page for the publisher's first-printing convention and confirm the points above. US first (Random House, New York, 1956).
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Later printings and reprints are identified by a printing statement added to the copyright page; the first printing carries none.
I have a first edition of A Family Party — what should I do?
If you're clearing books, New Mexico Literacy Project offers free pickup in Albuquerque, any condition, and makes sure collectible copies aren't lost. To sell, see the author's collecting guide. Either way, nothing valuable ends up in a landfill.