The points of issue
Author's first novel. "First Printing" stated on the copyright page; olive cloth, title stamped in green on the spine, green endpapers and a green top-stain. Issued in a price-printed first-state dust jacket.
Is this the true first?
US (Houghton Mifflin, Boston) is the true first; the UK Hamish Hamilton edition of 1970 follows.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Book-club edition lacks the "First Printing" statement and the flap price and typically shows a blind stamp on the rear board; a later First Edition Library facsimile also exists and is not the true first.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Deliverance a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Author's first novel. "First Printing" stated on the copyright page; olive cloth, title stamped in green on the spine, green endpapers and a green top-stain. Issued in a price-printed first-state dust 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. US (Houghton Mifflin, Boston) is the true first; the UK Hamish Hamilton edition of 1970 follows.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Book-club edition lacks the "First Printing" statement and the flap price and typically shows a blind stamp on the rear board; a later First Edition Library facsimile also exists and is not the true first.
I have a first edition of Deliverance — 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.