The points of issue
"First Edition" stated on the copyright page. Doubleday's Garden City imprint, with map endpapers and the dust jacket bearing its original price on the front flap.
Is this the true first?
US Doubleday edition is the true first; the UK edition followed from Collins in 1965.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Book club editions exist and are common; Doubleday book club copies lack the price on the jacket and typically show a blind-stamped dot or indent on the rear board.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Don't Stop the Carnival a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: "First Edition" stated on the copyright page. Doubleday's Garden City imprint, with map endpapers and the dust jacket bearing its original price on the front flap.
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 Doubleday edition is the true first; the UK edition followed from Collins in 1965.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Book club editions exist and are common; Doubleday book club copies lack the price on the jacket and typically show a blind-stamped dot or indent on the rear board.
I have a first edition of Don't Stop the Carnival — 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.