The points of issue
Cloth binding; the first printing carries the Harper publisher's code 'M-T' (signifying December 1944) on the copyright page, with the date '1945' present. The first-issue dust jacket is priced. The stated code, not the year alone, distinguishes the first printing.
Is this the true first?
US Harper & Brothers (New York and London) true first, 1945, identified by the 'M-T' code.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Later printings carry different Harper letter codes. The Book-of-the-Month Club issue lacks the publisher's code and the jacket price and bears a blind-stamp to the rear board.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Black Boy a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Cloth binding; the first printing carries the Harper publisher's code 'M-T' (signifying December 1944) on the copyright page, with the date '1945' present. The first-issue dust jacket is priced. The stated code, not the year alone, distinguishes the first printing.
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 Harper & Brothers (New York and London) true first, 1945, identified by the 'M-T' code.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Later printings carry different Harper letter codes. The Book-of-the-Month Club issue lacks the publisher's code and the jacket price and bears a blind-stamp to the rear board.
I have a first edition of Black Boy — 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.