The points of issue
True first edition has the words First Printing stated on the copyright page, with no later printing notice. Issued in tan cloth with dust jacket.
Is this the true first?
US first edition, Random House, New York, 1951. A Korean War air-war novel of 243 pages.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Later printings drop the First Printing statement; a Bantam paperback edition followed.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Don't Touch Me a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: True first edition has the words First Printing stated on the copyright page, with no later printing notice. Issued in tan cloth with 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 first edition, Random House, New York, 1951. A Korean War air-war novel of 243 pages.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Later printings drop the First Printing statement; a Bantam paperback edition followed.
I have a first edition of Don't Touch Me — 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.