The points of issue
First edition in the Landmark Books series, number 23, illustrated by Donald McKay. On the true first the dust jacket back panel lists no Landmark title numbered higher than this volume, and the copyright page carries no later printing notice.
Is this the true first?
US first edition, Random House Landmark Books, New York, 1952.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Later Random House printings and the World Landmark reprint line are distinguished by higher-numbered titles listed on the jacket and by later imprint statements.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Gettysburg a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First edition in the Landmark Books series, number 23, illustrated by Donald McKay. On the true first the dust jacket back panel lists no Landmark title numbered higher than this volume, and the copyright page carries no later printing notice.
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, Random House Landmark Books, New York, 1952.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Later Random House printings and the World Landmark reprint line are distinguished by higher-numbered titles listed on the jacket and by later imprint statements.
I have a first edition of Gettysburg — 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.