The points of issue
World Publishing trade first: copyright page carries a 'FIRST EDITION' statement. Thick octavo of roughly 767 pages in cloth, in a first-issue jacket that carries the printed retail price on the front flap. Awarded the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 1956.
Is this the true first?
US World Publishing 1955 is the true first. A signed 'Stockade Edition' (limited) was also issued for a Civil War book club, distinct from the trade first; the trade point of issue is the 'FIRST EDITION' statement on the copyright page.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Book-club copies are very common: they typically lack the 'FIRST EDITION' statement, often show a blind-stamp on the rear board, and carry a jacket without the printed price.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Andersonville a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: World Publishing trade first: copyright page carries a 'FIRST EDITION' statement. Thick octavo of roughly 767 pages in cloth, in a first-issue jacket that carries the printed retail price on the front flap. Awarded the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 1956.
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 World Publishing 1955 is the true first. A signed 'Stockade Edition' (limited) was also issued for a Civil War book club, distinct from the trade first; the trade point of issue is the 'FIRST EDITION' statement on the copyright page.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Book-club copies are very common: they typically lack the 'FIRST EDITION' statement, often show a blind-stamp on the rear board, and carry a jacket without the printed price.
I have a first edition of Andersonville — 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.