The points of issue
The Dial Press, New York, 1964, the basis for the 1970 Arthur Penn and Dustin Hoffman film. The first printing carries the 1964 date with no later-printing statement on the copyright page, is bound in black cloth-backed patterned brown paper boards with map endpapers, and has a first-state dust jacket carrying its printed price. Identify by the 1964 Dial imprint, the absence of any later-printing notice, and the priced jacket.
Is this the true first?
The US Dial first is the true first. The film drives demand for the comparatively scarce first printing.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Book-club issues lack the jacket price and typically carry a blind stamp to the rear board. The true first shows the 1964 Dial imprint with no later-printing statement and a priced jacket.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Little Big Man a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: The Dial Press, New York, 1964, the basis for the 1970 Arthur Penn and Dustin Hoffman film. The first printing carries the 1964 date with no later-printing statement on the copyright page, is bound in black cloth-backed patterned brown paper boards with map endpapers, and has a first-state dust jacket carrying its printed price. Identify by the 1964 Dial imprint, the absence of any later-printing notice, and the priced jacket.
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 Dial first is the true first. The film drives demand for the comparatively scarce first printing.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Book-club issues lack the jacket price and typically carry a blind stamp to the rear board. The true first shows the 1964 Dial imprint with no later-printing statement and a priced jacket.
I have a first edition of Little Big Man — 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.