The points of issue
True first issued by Farrar, Straus and Giroux in 1965, a posthumous story collection with an introduction by Robert Fitzgerald. Identify by the first-printing statement on the copyright page (FSG of this era states the first printing, typically with the year) and a first-issue dust jacket carrying the original price on the front flap.
Is this the true first?
US FSG first (1965) is the true first. The UK edition (Faber and Faber) follows in 1966.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No major book-club edition for the true first; later printings add printing statements.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Everything That Rises Must Converge a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: True first issued by Farrar, Straus and Giroux in 1965, a posthumous story collection with an introduction by Robert Fitzgerald. Identify by the first-printing statement on the copyright page (FSG of this era states the first printing, typically with the year) and a first-issue dust jacket carrying the 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 FSG first (1965) is the true first. The UK edition (Faber and Faber) follows in 1966.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
No major book-club edition for the true first; later printings add printing statements.
I have a first edition of Everything That Rises Must Converge — 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.