The points of issue
Dial Press imprint with the 1965 date on the title/copyright page and no statement of a later printing. Quarter blue cloth over grey boards, silver spine lettering, 270 pp; first-issue jacket (art by Paul Bacon) carries the printed price on the front flap.
Is this the true first?
US Dial Press is the first book edition, preceding the UK Andre Deutsch edition of 1965. The text first appeared serially in Esquire in 1964, but the Dial hardcover is the first book edition.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Book-club issue is typically blind-stamped on the rear board and comes in an unpriced jacket.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of An American Dream a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Dial Press imprint with the 1965 date on the title/copyright page and no statement of a later printing. Quarter blue cloth over grey boards, silver spine lettering, 270 pp; first-issue jacket (art by Paul Bacon) carries the printed price on the front flap.
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 Dial Press is the first book edition, preceding the UK Andre Deutsch edition of 1965. The text first appeared serially in Esquire in 1964, but the Dial hardcover is the first book edition.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Book-club issue is typically blind-stamped on the rear board and comes in an unpriced jacket.
I have a first edition of An American Dream — 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.