The points of issue
First edition, first printing, Duell, Sloan and Pearce, New York, 1950. Copyright page states First Edition. Hardcover in dust jacket.
Is this the true first?
US edition is the true first. A UK edition followed from Heinemann in 1951.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Later printings drop the First Edition statement; confirm no added printing notation.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Episode in Palmetto a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First edition, first printing, Duell, Sloan and Pearce, New York, 1950. Copyright page states First Edition. Hardcover in 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 edition is the true first. A UK edition followed from Heinemann in 1951.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Later printings drop the First Edition statement; confirm no added printing notation.
I have a first edition of Episode in Palmetto — 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.