# Is "Against Interpretation and Other Essays" by Susan Sontag a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of Against Interpretation and Other Essays by Susan Sontag (Farrar, Straus & Giroux, 1966) is identified by: True first published by Farrar, Straus & Giroux, New York, 1966 (essays written 1961-1965); the first printing carries FSG's first-edition statement on the copyright page with no additional printings indicated (house practice states 'First edition' / 'First printing (year)' and drops it on reprints). US FSG 1966 is the true first for this collection (Sontag's first essay collection).

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- True first published by Farrar, Straus & Giroux, New York, 1966 (essays written 1961-1965); the first printing carries FSG's first-edition statement on the copyright page with no additional printings indicated (house practice states 'First edition' / 'First printing (year)' and drops it on reprints)
- Bound in white boards stamped in red and black with black endpapers, the spine printed in lavender and red with black lettering; the stock is cheap and browns readily, so toned pages are usual and are not evidence against a first
- Priced dust jacket (white/red/lavender design) with the price present at the front flap
- Publisher imprint reads Farrar, Straus & Giroux
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | Susan Sontag |
| Publisher | Farrar, Straus & Giroux |
| Year | 1966 |
| True first | US edition |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | True first published by Farrar, Straus & Giroux, New York, 1966 (essays written 1961-1965); the first printing carries FSG's first-edition… |
| Book-club edition exists? | No |

## Points of issue
True first published by Farrar, Straus & Giroux, New York, 1966 (essays written 1961-1965); the first printing carries FSG's first-edition statement on the copyright page with no additional printings indicated (house practice states 'First edition' / 'First printing (year)' and drops it on reprints). Bound in white boards stamped in red and black with black endpapers, the spine printed in lavender and red with black lettering; the stock is cheap and browns readily, so toned pages are usual and are not evidence against a first. Priced dust jacket (white/red/lavender design) with the price present at the front flap.

## Is this the true first?
US FSG 1966 is the true first for this collection (Sontag's first essay collection). The census note of a 'UK Eyre & Spottiswoode 1967' was not independently confirmed in this pass and should be treated as unverified; regardless, the US edition holds precedence.

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No book-club issue documented for the 1966 first. Later Farrar/Delta and Picador printings are reprints/'first thus.'

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *Against Interpretation and Other Essays* by Susan Sontag a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/against-interpretation-and-other-essays
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.