# Is "Jackpot: The Short Stories of Erskine Caldwell" by Erskine Caldwell a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of Jackpot: The Short Stories of Erskine Caldwell by Erskine Caldwell (Duell, Sloan and Pearce, 1940) is identified by: First printing of the omnibus (January 1940) gathering seventy-five stories, each introduced by Caldwell's own comment, with several appearing in book form for the first time. US Duell, Sloan and Pearce first edition (January 1940) is the priority issue.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- First printing of the omnibus (January 1940) gathering seventy-five stories, each introduced by Caldwell's own comment, with several appearing in book form for the first time
- Bound in dark navy-blue buckram with bright silver lettering to the front cover and spine, a red top-edge stain, and a deckled fore-edge; the substantial volume runs to roughly 756 pages
- The first-issue dust jacket is printed in black, red and white and carries the original printed price
- Publisher imprint reads Duell, Sloan and Pearce
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | Erskine Caldwell |
| Publisher | Duell, Sloan and Pearce |
| Year | 1940 |
| True first | US edition |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | First printing of the omnibus (January 1940) gathering seventy-five stories, each introduced by Caldwell's own comment, with several… |
| Book-club edition exists? | — |

## Points of issue
First printing of the omnibus (January 1940) gathering seventy-five stories, each introduced by Caldwell's own comment, with several appearing in book form for the first time. Bound in dark navy-blue buckram with bright silver lettering to the front cover and spine, a red top-edge stain, and a deckled fore-edge; the substantial volume runs to roughly 756 pages. The first-issue dust jacket is printed in black, red and white and carries the original printed price.

## Is this the true first?
US Duell, Sloan and Pearce first edition (January 1940) is the priority issue.

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Later printings and reprints exist; confirm the navy buckram binding with silver stamping, red top-stain and priced black-red-white jacket to identify the trade first.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *Jackpot: The Short Stories of Erskine Caldwell* by Erskine Caldwell a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/jackpot-the-short-stories-of-erskine-caldwell
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.