The points of issue
First printing of this collection of forty selected stories, each accompanied by the author's own notes and commentary on why it was written. Coward-McCann, New York, 1944, in black cloth.
Is this the true first?
US first edition; published by Coward-McCann in New York.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Later printings exist; copies lacking the dust jacket and reprint issues are common.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Author's Choice a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First printing of this collection of forty selected stories, each accompanied by the author's own notes and commentary on why it was written. Coward-McCann, New York, 1944, in black cloth.
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 first edition; published by Coward-McCann in New York.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Later printings exist; copies lacking the dust jacket and reprint issues are common.
I have a first edition of Author's Choice — 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.