The points of issue
Copyright page reads 'First printing-1973'. Bound in publisher's orange cloth, gilt and black spine lettering, yellow topstain. First-issue jacket carries the printed price on the front flap, jacket design by Bob Giusti.
Is this the true first?
US Delacorte/Seymour Lawrence is the true first edition and precedes the UK Jonathan Cape edition. A signed/limited issue exists distinct from the trade first printing.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Book club copies lack the 'First printing-1973' statement and the printed jacket price; club editions are typically identified by a blind-stamped dot or square on the rear board and lighter, thinner paper and boards.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Breakfast of Champions, or Goodbye Blue Monday a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Copyright page reads 'First printing-1973'. Bound in publisher's orange cloth, gilt and black spine lettering, yellow topstain. First-issue jacket carries the printed price on the front flap, jacket design by Bob Giusti.
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 Delacorte/Seymour Lawrence is the true first edition and precedes the UK Jonathan Cape edition. A signed/limited issue exists distinct from the trade first printing.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Book club copies lack the 'First printing-1973' statement and the printed jacket price; club editions are typically identified by a blind-stamped dot or square on the rear board and lighter, thinner paper and boards.
I have a first edition of Breakfast of Champions, or Goodbye Blue Monday — 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.