The points of issue
Original black cloth-backed sky-blue paper boards, spine lettered in blue and red-orange, with black endpapers and an illustrated dust jacket priced 5.95 on the front flap. Later collected in the omnibus 'Classic Crews' (1993), which is not a first of the novel.
Is this the true first?
The US William Morrow 1972 edition is the true first.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Book-club issue: blind-stamp to the board, no price on the jacket flap. The 'Classic Crews' reader is a later reprint, not the first.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Car a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Original black cloth-backed sky-blue paper boards, spine lettered in blue and red-orange, with black endpapers and an illustrated dust jacket priced 5.95 on the front flap. Later collected in the omnibus 'Classic Crews' (1993), which is not a first of the novel.
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. The US William Morrow 1972 edition is the true first.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Book-club issue: blind-stamp to the board, no price on the jacket flap. The 'Classic Crews' reader is a later reprint, not the first.
I have a first edition of Car — 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.