The points of issue
True first is the paperback original, Fawcett Gold Medal #957 (1956), 25 cents, titled 'Down There.' Paperback wraps; no hardcover precedes it. Basis for Truffaut's 'Shoot the Piano Player'; later reissued under that title (tie-in). First printing has the original price and no later-printing statement.
Is this the true first?
Paperback is the true first. Retitled 'Shoot the Piano Player' for the film (post-1960); those editions are reprints/first-thus.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No book-club edition. The Gold Medal #957 titled 'Down There' is the true first; 'Shoot the Piano Player' retitlings postdate the film.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Down There (Shoot the Piano Player) a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: True first is the paperback original, Fawcett Gold Medal #957 (1956), 25 cents, titled 'Down There.' Paperback wraps; no hardcover precedes it. Basis for Truffaut's 'Shoot the Piano Player'; later reissued under that title (tie-in). First printing has the original price and no later-printing statement.
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. Paperback is the true first. Retitled 'Shoot the Piano Player' for the film (post-1960); those editions are reprints/first-thus.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
No book-club edition. The Gold Medal #957 titled 'Down There' is the true first; 'Shoot the Piano Player' retitlings postdate the film.
I have a first edition of Down There (Shoot the Piano Player) — 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.