# Is "Lovey Childs: A Philadelphian's Story" by John O'Hara a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of Lovey Childs: A Philadelphian's Story by John O'Hara (Random House, 1969) is identified by: Trade first issue has First Printing stated on the copyright page with no later-printing indication. US first edition (Random House, 1969); a UK edition followed from Hodder & Stoughton in 1970.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- Trade first issue has First Printing stated on the copyright page with no later-printing indication
- Issued in cloth with a first-issue dust jacket bearing the original unclipped price on the front flap
- Publisher imprint reads Random House
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | John O'Hara |
| Publisher | Random House |
| Year | 1969 |
| True first | US edition |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | Trade first issue has First Printing stated on the copyright page with no later-printing indication |
| Book-club edition exists? | Yes |

## Points of issue
Trade first issue has First Printing stated on the copyright page with no later-printing indication. Issued in cloth with a first-issue dust jacket bearing the original unclipped price on the front flap.

## Is this the true first?
US first edition (Random House, 1969); a UK edition followed from Hodder & Stoughton in 1970. A signed, numbered limited issue (approximately 200 copies) preceded or accompanied the trade printing and is the true first issue for collectors who distinguish the two.

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
A book club edition exists and lacks the price on the jacket flap.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *Lovey Childs: A Philadelphian's Story* by John O'Hara a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/lovey-childs-a-philadelphians-story
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.