The points of issue
The true first edition is the 1962 Fawcett Gold Medal paperback original (issued February 1962, printed wrappers). The first hardcover is Harper & Row 1966, which adds a new Introduction concluding with the dateline 'Iowa City, 1966'; first printing so stated, with the jacket carrying the printed price.
Is this the true first?
The genuine first edition is the Fawcett Gold Medal paperback original (1962); the 1966 Harper & Row hardcover is the first hardcover, with newly added introductory matter.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
The Harper book-club hardcover lacks the price and is blind-stamped; the paperback original cannot be confused with a book-club edition.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Mother Night a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: The true first edition is the 1962 Fawcett Gold Medal paperback original (issued February 1962, printed wrappers). The first hardcover is Harper & Row 1966, which adds a new Introduction concluding with the dateline 'Iowa City, 1966'; first printing so stated, with the jacket carrying the printed price.
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 genuine first edition is the Fawcett Gold Medal paperback original (1962); the 1966 Harper & Row hardcover is the first hardcover, with newly added introductory matter.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
The Harper book-club hardcover lacks the price and is blind-stamped; the paperback original cannot be confused with a book-club edition.
I have a first edition of Mother Night — 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.