The points of issue
Putnam imprint, New York 1959. First printing carries no statement of a later printing on the copyright page. Quarter cloth with Mailer's signature stamped on the front board. First-issue jacket bears the printed price on the front flap and the well-known photograph of Mailer in a yachting cap, with a selection of author photographs on the rear panel.
Is this the true first?
US Putnam edition is the true first, preceding the UK Andre Deutsch edition of 1961.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Book club copies are typically smaller, lack the front-flap price, and may show a blind-stamp or dot on the rear board.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Advertisements for Myself a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Putnam imprint, New York 1959. First printing carries no statement of a later printing on the copyright page. Quarter cloth with Mailer's signature stamped on the front board. First-issue jacket bears the printed price on the front flap and the well-known photograph of Mailer in a yachting cap, with a selection of author photographs on the rear panel.
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 Putnam edition is the true first, preceding the UK Andre Deutsch edition of 1961.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Book club copies are typically smaller, lack the front-flap price, and may show a blind-stamp or dot on the rear board.
I have a first edition of Advertisements for Myself — 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.