# Is "Assembly" by John O'Hara a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of Assembly by John O'Hara (Random House, 1961) is identified by: First printing of this collection of twenty-six stories, O'Hara's return to short fiction after an eleven-year gap, published by Random House, New York, November 1961, 429 pp. US first (Random House, New York, 1961), stating 'First Printing.' The UK Cresset Press edition followed in 1962 as a separate, later setting.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- First printing of this collection of twenty-six stories, O'Hara's return to short fiction after an eleven-year gap, published by Random House, New York, November 1961, 429 pp. 'First Printing' is stated on the copyright page with no later-printing slug
- Bound in white linen with gilt spine lettering over a red panel; first-issue jacket lettered in black and red, with the printed price present on the flap
- Publisher imprint reads Random House
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | John O'Hara |
| Publisher | Random House |
| Year | 1961 |
| True first | US edition |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | First printing of this collection of twenty-six stories, O'Hara's return to short fiction after an eleven-year gap, published by Random… |
| Book-club edition exists? | Yes |

## Points of issue
First printing of this collection of twenty-six stories, O'Hara's return to short fiction after an eleven-year gap, published by Random House, New York, November 1961, 429 pp. 'First Printing' is stated on the copyright page with no later-printing slug. Bound in white linen with gilt spine lettering over a red panel; first-issue jacket lettered in black and red, with the printed price present on the flap.

## Is this the true first?
US first (Random House, New York, 1961), stating 'First Printing.' The UK Cresset Press edition followed in 1962 as a separate, later setting.

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Later printings alter or add a printing statement to the copyright page; the true first carries only 'First Printing' and no additional slug. No distinct book-club binding point noted beyond the copyright-page statement.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *Assembly* by John O'Hara a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/assembly
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.