The points of issue
First printing is identified by the words First printing 1956 stated on the copyright page. Aqua/blue-green paper-covered boards quarter-bound in yellow textured paper, lettered in gold and black. Dust jacket priced 4.50 on the front flap.
Is this the true first?
US first edition (Farrar, Straus and Cudahy, 1956). A UK edition followed from Neville Spearman.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Later printings note additional printings on the copyright page rather than First printing 1956.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of A Walk on the Wild Side a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First printing is identified by the words First printing 1956 stated on the copyright page. Aqua/blue-green paper-covered boards quarter-bound in yellow textured paper, lettered in gold and black. Dust jacket priced 4.50 on the front flap.
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 edition (Farrar, Straus and Cudahy, 1956). A UK edition followed from Neville Spearman.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Later printings note additional printings on the copyright page rather than First printing 1956.
I have a first edition of A Walk on the Wild Side — 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.