The points of issue
Full title 'God Bless You, Mr. Rosewater, or Pearls Before Swine.' First edition states 'First Edition' on the copyright page; first-issue dust jacket priced 4.95. Published April 1965.
Is this the true first?
True first is the 1965 Holt, Rinehart and Winston edition. The UK first was published by Jonathan Cape in 1965.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
A book-club edition exists with a blind-stamp to the rear board and an unpriced dust jacket.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of God Bless You, Mr. Rosewater a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Full title 'God Bless You, Mr. Rosewater, or Pearls Before Swine.' First edition states 'First Edition' on the copyright page; first-issue dust jacket priced 4.95. Published April 1965.
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. True first is the 1965 Holt, Rinehart and Winston edition. The UK first was published by Jonathan Cape in 1965.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
A book-club edition exists with a blind-stamp to the rear board and an unpriced dust jacket.
I have a first edition of God Bless You, Mr. Rosewater — 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.