The points of issue
First printing of the omnibus gathering seventy-five stories, each introduced by Caldwell's own comment; nine appeared in book form for the first time. Issued in navy buckram with silver lettering.
Is this the true first?
US first edition.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Later printings and reprints exist; the trade first is the priority issue.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Jackpot: The Short Stories of Erskine Caldwell a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First printing of the omnibus gathering seventy-five stories, each introduced by Caldwell's own comment; nine appeared in book form for the first time. Issued in navy buckram with silver lettering.
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 first edition.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Later printings and reprints exist; the trade first is the priority issue.
I have a first edition of Jackpot: The Short Stories of Erskine Caldwell — 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.