The points of issue
Cloth; volume in the Oxford History of the United States; full number line on the copyright page descending to '1' with no later-printing statement; first-state dust jacket with price present.
Is this the true first?
US Oxford University Press (New York) is the true first, 1988. Won the 1989 Pulitzer Prize for History.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Book-club copies generally lack the price and may show a blind-stamp to the rear board; confirm first status by the descending number line.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Battle Cry of Freedom: The Civil War Era a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Cloth; volume in the Oxford History of the United States; full number line on the copyright page descending to '1' with no later-printing statement; first-state dust jacket with price present.
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 Oxford University Press (New York) is the true first, 1988. Won the 1989 Pulitzer Prize for History.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Book-club copies generally lack the price and may show a blind-stamp to the rear board; confirm first status by the descending number line.
I have a first edition of Battle Cry of Freedom: The Civil War Era — 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.