The points of issue
Gollancz first edition, 1961; publisher's red cloth with gilt spine lettering (Gollancz house style). First-issue dust jacket in the typical yellow Gollancz typographic design, priced 13s 6d net to the inside flap. Verso lacks any reprint/impression statement; confirm there is no later-impression line.
Is this the true first?
UK Gollancz (1961) is the true first; US Walker (1962) followed. The author's debut and the first appearance of George Smiley; scarce, especially in the jacket.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Later impressions add an impression statement and are reset; the John le Carré Omnibus (Gollancz, 1964) and book-club/Companion reprints are not the first and lack the original jacket price.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Call for the Dead a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Gollancz first edition, 1961; publisher's red cloth with gilt spine lettering (Gollancz house style). First-issue dust jacket in the typical yellow Gollancz typographic design, priced 13s 6d net to the inside flap. Verso lacks any reprint/impression statement; confirm there is no later-impression line.
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. UK Gollancz (1961) is the true first; US Walker (1962) followed. The author's debut and the first appearance of George Smiley; scarce, especially in the jacket.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Later impressions add an impression statement and are reset; the John le Carré Omnibus (Gollancz, 1964) and book-club/Companion reprints are not the first and lack the original jacket price.
I have a first edition of Call for the Dead — 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.