The points of issue
'FIRST EDITION' stated on the copyright page; Harcourt, Brace & Company imprint; first printing April 1946; first-issue dust jacket retaining its original price. Welty's first full-length novel.
Is this the true first?
US Harcourt, Brace (April 1946) is the true first; the UK Bodley Head edition (1947) follows.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Later states omit the stated 'First Edition' and lack the price-intact first-issue jacket; confirm the stated first on the copyright page.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Delta Wedding a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: 'FIRST EDITION' stated on the copyright page; Harcourt, Brace & Company imprint; first printing April 1946; first-issue dust jacket retaining its original price. Welty's first full-length 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. US Harcourt, Brace (April 1946) is the true first; the UK Bodley Head edition (1947) follows.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Later states omit the stated 'First Edition' and lack the price-intact first-issue jacket; confirm the stated first on the copyright page.
I have a first edition of Delta Wedding — 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.