# Is "Episode in Palmetto" by Erskine Caldwell a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of Episode in Palmetto by Erskine Caldwell (Duell, Sloan and Pearce, 1950) is identified by: First edition, first printing from Duell, Sloan and Pearce, New York, 1950. The US Duell, Sloan and Pearce edition is the true first.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- First edition, first printing from Duell, Sloan and Pearce, New York, 1950
- This publisher's firsts are identified by a stated 'First Edition' on the copyright page (in the absence of any later-printing notation); the house also used a Roman-numeral system where 'I' denotes the first printing and 'II', 'III' and so on denote subsequent printings
- Hardcover issued in a printed dust jacket, which should retain its printed price
- Publisher imprint reads Duell, Sloan and Pearce
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | Erskine Caldwell |
| Publisher | Duell, Sloan and Pearce |
| Year | 1950 |
| True first | US edition |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | First edition, first printing from Duell, Sloan and Pearce, New York, 1950 |
| Book-club edition exists? | — |

## Points of issue
First edition, first printing from Duell, Sloan and Pearce, New York, 1950. This publisher's firsts are identified by a stated 'First Edition' on the copyright page (in the absence of any later-printing notation); the house also used a Roman-numeral system where 'I' denotes the first printing and 'II', 'III' and so on denote subsequent printings. Hardcover issued in a printed dust jacket, which should retain its printed price.

## Is this the true first?
The US Duell, Sloan and Pearce edition is the true first. A UK edition followed from Heinemann in 1951.

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Later printings either drop the 'First Edition' statement or carry a Roman numeral higher than I on the copyright page; confirm 'First Edition' (or 'I') and no added printing notation.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *Episode in Palmetto* by Erskine Caldwell a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/episode-in-palmetto
CC BY 4.0. Part of the Canonical First-Edition Points of Issue dataset (https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/api/first-edition-titles.json). Last reviewed 2026-07-04.