# Is "High Priest of California" by Charles Willeford a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of High Priest of California by Charles Willeford (Royal Books, 1953) is identified by: True first is the paperback original, Royal Giant #16 (1953), bound back-to-back (a Royal double) with 'Wild Wives' in some states. Paperback is the true first.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- True first is the paperback original, Royal Giant #16
- , bound back-to-back (a Royal double) with 'Wild Wives' in some states
- Willeford's first novel
- Paperback wraps only
- Royal Books imprint and catalog number identify it
- Publisher imprint reads Royal Books
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | Charles Willeford |
| Publisher | Royal Books |
| Year | 1953 |
| True first | — |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | True first is the paperback original, Royal Giant #16 |
| Book-club edition exists? | No |

## Points of issue
True first is the paperback original, Royal Giant #16 (1953), bound back-to-back (a Royal double) with 'Wild Wives' in some states. Willeford's first novel. Paperback wraps only; Royal Books imprint and catalog number identify it.

## Is this the true first?
Paperback is the true first. Later editions pairing 'High Priest of California' and 'Wild Wives' (Re/Search, 1987, etc.) are modern first-thus collections.

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No book-club edition. Distinguish the Royal Giant #16 first from the 1987 Re/Search reprint and later editions.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *High Priest of California* by Charles Willeford a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/high-priest-of-california
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.