# Is "Go to the Widow-Maker" by James Jones a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of Go to the Widow-Maker by James Jones (Delacorte Press, 1967) is identified by: First printing is identified by the words 'First printing' stated on the copyright page (Delacorte's convention of the period). US Delacorte first; UK Collins also appeared in 1967, after the US edition.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- 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
- Publisher imprint reads Delacorte Press
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | James Jones |
| Publisher | Delacorte Press |
| Year | 1967 |
| True first | US edition |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | First printing is identified by the words 'First printing' stated on the copyright page (Delacorte's convention of the period) |
| Book-club edition exists? | Yes |

## 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.'

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *Go to the Widow-Maker* by James Jones a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/go-to-the-widow-maker
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.