# Is "Files on Parade" by John O'Hara a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of Files on Parade by John O'Hara (Harcourt, Brace and Company, 1939) is identified by: "First Edition" is stated on the copyright page of the Harcourt, Brace and Company printing (Bruccoli A6.1.a). The US Harcourt, Brace and Company printing of 1939 is the true first, distinguished by the stated "First Edition" line and the tipped-in Foreword leaf (Bruccoli A6.1.a).

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- "First Edition" is stated on the copyright page of the Harcourt, Brace and Company printing (Bruccoli A6.1.a)
- The recognized first-state point is the Foreword leaf tipped in
- Bound in original royal blue cloth with gilt lettering on the spine, in the original printed dust jacket carrying its printed price (an unclipped jacket is preferred)
- O'Hara's second short-story collection, gathering thirty-five stories
- Publisher imprint reads Harcourt, Brace and Company
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | John O'Hara |
| Publisher | Harcourt, Brace and Company |
| Year | 1939 |
| True first | US edition |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | "First Edition" is stated on the copyright page of the Harcourt, Brace and Company printing (Bruccoli A6.1.a) |
| Book-club edition exists? | — |

## Points of issue
"First Edition" is stated on the copyright page of the Harcourt, Brace and Company printing (Bruccoli A6.1.a). The recognized first-state point is the Foreword leaf tipped in. Bound in original royal blue cloth with gilt lettering on the spine, in the original printed dust jacket carrying its printed price (an unclipped jacket is preferred). O'Hara's second short-story collection, gathering thirty-five stories.

## Is this the true first?
The US Harcourt, Brace and Company printing of 1939 is the true first, distinguished by the stated "First Edition" line and the tipped-in Foreword leaf (Bruccoli A6.1.a).

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Reprints lack the stated "First Edition" line; a later softcover reissue also appeared and is not the first.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *Files on Parade* by John O'Hara a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/files-on-parade
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.