The points of issue
First printing is identified by the words 'First printing' stated on the copyright page (Delacorte's convention of the period). 618 pages, black boards with gilt lettering. Jones's first book after leaving Scribner's.
Is this the true first?
US Delacorte first; UK Collins also appeared in 1967, after the US edition.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Book club edition carries a blind-stamp on the rear board and does not state 'First printing.'
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Go to the Widow-Maker a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First printing is identified by the words 'First printing' stated on the copyright page (Delacorte's convention of the period). 618 pages, black boards with gilt lettering. Jones's first book after leaving Scribner's.
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 Delacorte first; UK Collins also appeared in 1967, after the US edition.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Book club edition carries a blind-stamp on the rear board and does not state 'First printing.'
I have a first edition of Go to the Widow-Maker — 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.