# Is "Call for the Dead" by John le Carré a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of Call for the Dead by John le Carré (Victor Gollancz, 1961) is identified by: Gollancz first edition, 1961; publisher's red cloth with gilt spine lettering (Gollancz house style). UK Gollancz (1961) is the true first; US Walker (1962) followed.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- 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, with its printed price to the inside flap
- Verso lacks any reprint/impression statement; confirm there is no later-impression line
- Publisher imprint reads Victor Gollancz
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | John le Carré |
| Publisher | Victor Gollancz |
| Year | 1961 |
| True first | UK edition |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | Gollancz first edition, 1961; publisher's red cloth with gilt spine lettering (Gollancz house style) |
| Book-club edition exists? | Yes |

## 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, with its printed price 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.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *Call for the Dead* by John le Carré a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/call-for-the-dead
CC BY 4.0. Part of the Canonical First-Edition Points of Issue dataset (https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/api/first-edition-titles.json). Last reviewed 2026-07-04.