The points of issue
First printing has 'FIRST EDITION' stated on the copyright page together with the McGraw-Hill code 45720 and no later-printing notation. Black cloth with blind-debossed lettering on the front board, gilt spine, and the author-portrait jacket carrying the printed price.
Is this the true first?
US McGraw-Hill (May 1969) is the true first; it precedes the UK Weidenfeld & Nicolson edition.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Book-club copies are blind-stamped on the rear board and carry an unpriced jacket.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Ada, or Ardor: A Family Chronicle a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First printing has 'FIRST EDITION' stated on the copyright page together with the McGraw-Hill code 45720 and no later-printing notation. Black cloth with blind-debossed lettering on the front board, gilt spine, and the author-portrait jacket carrying the printed price.
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 McGraw-Hill (May 1969) is the true first; it precedes the UK Weidenfeld & Nicolson edition.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Book-club copies are blind-stamped on the rear board and carry an unpriced jacket.
I have a first edition of Ada, or Ardor: A Family Chronicle — 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.