The points of issue
First printing of the US story collection. Identify by the absence of any later-printing statement on the copyright page and the first-issue dust jacket.
Is this the true first?
US Delacorte Press (1965) is the true first; Jonathan Cape issued the first UK edition (August 1965), described by dealers as the first British and only UK hardback edition.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
A Dell paperback followed in 1966; some listings dated 1966 are this Dell reprint, not the hardback first. Confirm the Delacorte imprint and 1965 date.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Love on a Dark Street and Other Stories a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First printing of the US story collection. Identify by the absence of any later-printing statement on the copyright page and the first-issue dust 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. US Delacorte Press (1965) is the true first; Jonathan Cape issued the first UK edition (August 1965), described by dealers as the first British and only UK hardback edition.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
A Dell paperback followed in 1966; some listings dated 1966 are this Dell reprint, not the hardback first. Confirm the Delacorte imprint and 1965 date.
I have a first edition of Love on a Dark Street and Other Stories — 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.