The points of issue
First printing, in pictorial dust jacket. First issue lacks the tipped-in disclaimer slip later inserted at the dedication leaf; copies with that slip tipped in represent a later state. First book of the Bernard Carr trilogy; because a living person named Bernard Clare objected to the name, the protagonist and series were subsequently renamed Bernard Carr in later printings and the two sequels.
Is this the true first?
US first edition, published by The Vanguard Press, New York, 1946.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Vanguard indicated subsequent printings on the copyright page; a true first printing carries no later-printing notice.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Bernard Clare a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First printing, in pictorial dust jacket. First issue lacks the tipped-in disclaimer slip later inserted at the dedication leaf; copies with that slip tipped in represent a later state. First book of the Bernard Carr trilogy; because a living person named Bernard Clare objected to the name, the protagonist and series were subsequently renamed Bernard Carr in later printings and the two sequels.
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 The Vanguard Press, New York, 1946.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Vanguard indicated subsequent printings on the copyright page; a true first printing carries no later-printing notice.
I have a first edition of Bernard Clare — 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.