# Is "Norwood" by Charles Portis a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of Norwood by Charles Portis (Simon and Schuster, 1966) is identified by: The first printing is identified by "First Printing" stated on the copyright page, with no later-printing designations present; this is the single controlling point and is confirmed by multiple ABAA dealers (Johnson Rare Books, Bauman Rare Books, Lost City Bookstore). The US Simon and Schuster edition (New York, 1966) is the true first and the priority edition, preceding the first UK edition (Jonathan Cape, London, 1967) by a year.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- The first printing is identified by "First Printing" stated on the copyright page, with no later-printing designations present; this is the single controlling point and is confirmed by multiple ABAA dealers (Johnson Rare Books, Bauman Rare Books, Lost City Bookstore)
- Bound in blue cloth with the spine and borders stamped in black, tan, and white and the top edge stained, and issued in a priced pictorial dust jacket
- A yellow remainder/spray dot appears on nearly every copy (a documented characteristic, not a required point), and some copies retain a publisher's reader-response card laid in
- Portis's scarce first novel; the first printing reportedly sold out within weeks, so later printings exist and are marked as such on the copyright page
- Publisher imprint reads Simon and Schuster
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | Charles Portis |
| Publisher | Simon and Schuster |
| Year | 1966 |
| True first | US edition |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | The first printing is identified by "First Printing" stated on the copyright page, with no later-printing designations present; this is the… |
| Book-club edition exists? | No |

## Points of issue
The first printing is identified by "First Printing" stated on the copyright page, with no later-printing designations present; this is the single controlling point and is confirmed by multiple ABAA dealers (Johnson Rare Books, Bauman Rare Books, Lost City Bookstore). Bound in blue cloth with the spine and borders stamped in black, tan, and white and the top edge stained, and issued in a priced pictorial dust jacket. A yellow remainder/spray dot appears on nearly every copy (a documented characteristic, not a required point), and some copies retain a publisher's reader-response card laid in. Portis's scarce first novel; the first printing reportedly sold out within weeks, so later printings exist and are marked as such on the copyright page.

## Is this the true first?
The US Simon and Schuster edition (New York, 1966) is the true first and the priority edition, preceding the first UK edition (Jonathan Cape, London, 1967) by a year. Both regional firsts are collected, but the 1966 Simon and Schuster is the true first.

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No US book-club issue is documented for Norwood; later Simon and Schuster printings are distinguished by added printing statements on the copyright page rather than the "First Printing" line.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *Norwood* by Charles Portis a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/norwood
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.