The points of issue
Doubleday first: 'First Edition' stated on the copyright page with no later-printing line; an early gutter code (C6) appears on the last text page. Gray cloth stamped in gold and blue, in a first-issue jacket carrying the printed price and the Doubleday imprint on the spine. Awarded the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 1960.
Is this the true first?
US Doubleday 1959 is the true first; the 'First Edition' copyright-page statement is the point, corroborated by the C6 gutter code on the final text page.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Book-club copies are extremely common: they lack the 'First Edition' statement, show a blind-stamp on the rear board, and carry an unpriced jacket.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Advise and Consent a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Doubleday first: 'First Edition' stated on the copyright page with no later-printing line; an early gutter code (C6) appears on the last text page. Gray cloth stamped in gold and blue, in a first-issue jacket carrying the printed price and the Doubleday imprint on the spine. Awarded the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 1960.
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 Doubleday 1959 is the true first; the 'First Edition' copyright-page statement is the point, corroborated by the C6 gutter code on the final text page.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Book-club copies are extremely common: they lack the 'First Edition' statement, show a blind-stamp on the rear board, and carry an unpriced jacket.
I have a first edition of Advise and Consent — 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.