# Is "A Family Party" by John O'Hara a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of A Family Party by John O'Hara (Random House, 1956) is identified by: First printing of this slim novella, presented as a single after-dinner monologue, in paper-covered boards with cloth spine and dust jacket. US first (Random House, New York, 1956).

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- 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
- Publisher imprint reads Random House
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | John O'Hara |
| Publisher | Random House |
| Year | 1956 |
| True first | US edition |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | First printing of this slim novella, presented as a single after-dinner monologue, in paper-covered boards with cloth spine and dust jacket |
| Book-club edition exists? | — |

## 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.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *A Family Party* by John O'Hara a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/a-family-party
CC BY 4.0. Part of the Canonical First-Edition Points of Issue dataset (https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/api/first-edition-titles.json). Last reviewed 2026-07-04.