The points of issue
First printing, Vanguard Press, New York, 1955. Story collection of nine stories (several previously appearing in magazines, all first collected in this hardcover).
Is this the true first?
US first edition (Vanguard, 1955).
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Later printings stated; the 1955 Vanguard hardcover is the true first.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of French Girls Are Vicious and Other Stories a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First printing, Vanguard Press, New York, 1955. Story collection of nine stories (several previously appearing in magazines, all first collected in this hardcover).
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 first edition (Vanguard, 1955).
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Later printings stated; the 1955 Vanguard hardcover is the true first.
I have a first edition of French Girls Are Vicious and Other Stories — 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.