# Is "A Walk on the Wild Side" by Nelson Algren a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of A Walk on the Wild Side by Nelson Algren (Farrar, Straus and Cudahy, 1956) is identified by: First printing is identified by the words First printing 1956 stated on the copyright page. US first edition (Farrar, Straus and Cudahy, 1956).

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- 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
- Publisher imprint reads Farrar, Straus and Cudahy
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | Nelson Algren |
| Publisher | Farrar, Straus and Cudahy |
| Year | 1956 |
| True first | US edition |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | First printing is identified by the words First printing 1956 stated on the copyright page |
| Book-club edition exists? | — |

## 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.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *A Walk on the Wild Side* by Nelson Algren a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/a-walk-on-the-wild-side
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.