The points of issue
First printing. Published 2 February 1961 by Simon & Schuster, New York, under the title The Ice in the Bedroom (note the leading definite article on the US edition), preceding the UK Herbert Jenkins edition of 15 October 1961, titled Ice in the Bedroom.
Is this the true first?
US Simon & Schuster (2 February 1961) is the true first, about seven months ahead of the UK Herbert Jenkins edition (15 October 1961). The US title carries the article The; the UK title drops it.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No book-club issue noted. A condensed version appeared earlier in Canada in the Toronto Star Weekly (11 November 1960) but is not a book edition.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Ice in the Bedroom a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First printing. Published 2 February 1961 by Simon & Schuster, New York, under the title The Ice in the Bedroom (note the leading definite article on the US edition), preceding the UK Herbert Jenkins edition of 15 October 1961, titled Ice in the Bedroom.
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 Simon & Schuster (2 February 1961) is the true first, about seven months ahead of the UK Herbert Jenkins edition (15 October 1961). The US title carries the article The; the UK title drops it.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
No book-club issue noted. A condensed version appeared earlier in Canada in the Toronto Star Weekly (11 November 1960) but is not a book edition.
I have a first edition of Ice in the Bedroom — 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.