The points of issue
First printing, stated First Edition. A set of linked epistolary country-club stories (originally serialized in Sports Illustrated), illustrated with line drawings.
Is this the true first?
US first (Little, Brown, Boston/Toronto, 1957).
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Later printings exist; confirm the First Edition statement on the copyright page.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Life at Happy Knoll a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First printing, stated First Edition. A set of linked epistolary country-club stories (originally serialized in Sports Illustrated), illustrated with line drawings.
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 (Little, Brown, Boston/Toronto, 1957).
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Later printings exist; confirm the First Edition statement on the copyright page.
I have a first edition of Life at Happy Knoll — 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.