The points of issue
True first is the paperback original, Fawcett Gold Medal #s725 (1953). Paperback wraps; no hardcover precedes it. Gold Medal logo and number; first printing carries the original price and no later-printing line.
Is this the true first?
Paperback is the true first. Charles Williams was a quintessential Gold Medal PBO author; nearly all his early titles are paperback firsts.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No book-club edition. Distinguish the Gold Medal first printing from later Fawcett printings (higher price, printing statement).
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of A Touch of Death a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: True first is the paperback original, Fawcett Gold Medal #s725 (1953). Paperback wraps; no hardcover precedes it. Gold Medal logo and number; first printing carries the original price and no later-printing line.
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. Charles Williams was a quintessential Gold Medal PBO author; nearly all his early titles are paperback firsts.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
No book-club edition. Distinguish the Gold Medal first printing from later Fawcett printings (higher price, printing statement).
I have a first edition of A Touch of Death — 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.