The points of issue
First printing states 'FIRST EDITION' / 'First Printing' on the copyright page; first-issue dust jacket priced the printed price. A signed/limited issue of 500 copies, signed by Capote, in slipcase, was printed concurrently.
Is this the true first?
The 500-copy signed limited (Random House, 1966) is the apex deluxe state; the trade first is the open-market true first. UK (Hamish Hamilton, 1966) follows.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Book-club copies lack 'First Edition', are blind-stamped, and have unpriced jackets.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of In Cold Blood a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First printing states 'FIRST EDITION' / 'First Printing' on the copyright page; first-issue dust jacket priced the printed price. A signed/limited issue of 500 copies, signed by Capote, in slipcase, was printed concurrently.
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. The 500-copy signed limited (Random House, 1966) is the apex deluxe state; the trade first is the open-market true first. UK (Hamish Hamilton, 1966) follows.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Book-club copies lack 'First Edition', are blind-stamped, and have unpriced jackets.
I have a first edition of In Cold Blood — 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.