The points of issue
First printing has 'FIRST PRINTING' stated on the copyright page; first-issue dust jacket is priced the printed price and the rear panel carries the blurbs without later additions.
Is this the true first?
US Simon & Schuster 1961 is the true first; UK (Jonathan Cape, 1962) follows. Signed first printings exist and are desirable but the trade first is the landmark.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Book-club copies lack 'FIRST PRINTING', have a blind-stamp on the rear board, and a price-clipped or unpriced jacket.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Catch-22 a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First printing has 'FIRST PRINTING' stated on the copyright page; first-issue dust jacket is priced the printed price and the rear panel carries the blurbs without later additions.
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 Simon & Schuster 1961 is the true first; UK (Jonathan Cape, 1962) follows. Signed first printings exist and are desirable but the trade first is the landmark.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Book-club copies lack 'FIRST PRINTING', have a blind-stamp on the rear board, and a price-clipped or unpriced jacket.
I have a first edition of Catch-22 — 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.