The points of issue
True first is the 1946 William Morrow HARDCOVER (basis for the film 'Out of the Past'). Caution title. Not a paperback original. Morrow first has no later-printing statement and the original jacket.
Is this the true first?
Caution: paperback reprints postdate the hardcover. Hardcover is the true first.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Distinguish the Morrow hardcover first from later reprints and tie-ins.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Build My Gallows High a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: True first is the 1946 William Morrow HARDCOVER (basis for the film 'Out of the Past'). Caution title. Not a paperback original. Morrow first has no later-printing statement and the original jacket.
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. Caution: paperback reprints postdate the hardcover. Hardcover is the true first.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Distinguish the Morrow hardcover first from later reprints and tie-ins.
I have a first edition of Build My Gallows High — 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.