The points of issue
True first is the paperback original, Lion Books #218 (1954), 25 cents. Paperback wraps; no hardcover precedes it. Lion logo and catalog number 218. Famous for its split-narrative ending. First printing has no later-printing statement.
Is this the true first?
Paperback is the true first. Modern reprints (Black Lizard etc.) are first-thus only.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No book-club edition. Distinguish the Lion #218 first from later Lion Library reissues and modern reprints.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of A Hell of a Woman a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: True first is the paperback original, Lion Books #218 (1954), 25 cents. Paperback wraps; no hardcover precedes it. Lion logo and catalog number 218. Famous for its split-narrative ending. First printing has 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. Paperback is the true first. Modern reprints (Black Lizard etc.) are first-thus only.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
No book-club edition. Distinguish the Lion #218 first from later Lion Library reissues and modern reprints.
I have a first edition of A Hell of a Woman — 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.