The points of issue
First printing of the nonfiction account of Greene's friendship with Omar Torrijos of Panama; full title 'Getting to Know the General: The Story of an Involvement.' UK Bodley Head issue in green cloth with gilt spine.
Is this the true first?
The Bodley Head issued the UK first in 1984; a first Canadian edition by Lester & Orpen Dennys also appeared in 1984, and US Simon & Schuster issued the first American edition the same year. Precise precedence between the UK and Canadian issues is not firmly settled in the sources consulted.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No book-club issue noted for the first printing.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Getting to Know the General a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First printing of the nonfiction account of Greene's friendship with Omar Torrijos of Panama; full title 'Getting to Know the General: The Story of an Involvement.' UK Bodley Head issue in green cloth with gilt spine.
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. The Bodley Head issued the UK first in 1984; a first Canadian edition by Lester & Orpen Dennys also appeared in 1984, and US Simon & Schuster issued the first American edition the same year. Precise precedence between the UK and Canadian issues is not firmly settled in the sources consulted.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
No book-club issue noted for the first printing.
I have a first edition of Getting to Know the General — 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.