The points of issue
Black cloth with gilt spine lettering, illustrated endpapers, 16 plates of black-and-white photographs; first printing stated on the copyright page; first-state dust jacket with the original price on the front flap (unclipped).
Is this the true first?
US Macmillan (New York) is the true first, 1966.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
The book-club issue lacks the stated first-printing line and the jacket price, and typically shows a blind-stamp on the rear board.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Guns of August legacy — instead: The Proud Tower: A Portrait of the World Before the War, 1890-1914 a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Black cloth with gilt spine lettering, illustrated endpapers, 16 plates of black-and-white photographs; first printing stated on the copyright page; first-state dust jacket with the original price on the front flap (unclipped).
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 Macmillan (New York) is the true first, 1966.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
The book-club issue lacks the stated first-printing line and the jacket price, and typically shows a blind-stamp on the rear board.
I have a first edition of Guns of August legacy — instead: The Proud Tower: A Portrait of the World Before the War, 1890-1914 — 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.