The points of issue
First printing per Little, Brown convention: the copyright page states First Edition with no later-printing line (Little, Brown stated First Edition or First Printing from 1940 until adopting number lines in the later 1970s). Thick octavo of about 877 pages, illustrated by Earl Thollander, in publisher's cloth. Verify the First Edition slug and the absence of any later-printing indication.
Is this the true first?
The US Little, Brown 1972 edition is the true first; this is Beard's magnum opus. Confirm via the stated First Edition and matching 1972 copyright.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Book-club editions exist, typically smaller and lighter, often with a blind-stamp on the rear board, lacking the jacket flap price and lacking the First Edition statement. Rely on the copyright-page statement plus the presence of a jacket price to separate the trade first from a book-club copy.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of James Beard's American Cookery a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First printing per Little, Brown convention: the copyright page states First Edition with no later-printing line (Little, Brown stated First Edition or First Printing from 1940 until adopting number lines in the later 1970s). Thick octavo of about 877 pages, illustrated by Earl Thollander, in publisher's cloth. Verify the First Edition slug and the absence of any later-printing indication.
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 US Little, Brown 1972 edition is the true first; this is Beard's magnum opus. Confirm via the stated First Edition and matching 1972 copyright.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Book-club editions exist, typically smaller and lighter, often with a blind-stamp on the rear board, lacking the jacket flap price and lacking the First Edition statement. Rely on the copyright-page statement plus the presence of a jacket price to separate the trade first from a book-club copy.
I have a first edition of James Beard's American Cookery — 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.