The points of issue
Kesey's first novel. Copyright page reads 'Published in 1962 by The Viking Press, Inc.' with no later-printing statement. Bright green cloth lettered in yellow on the spine, top edge stained peach. First-state text points (removed in later printings after a lawsuit): the 'fool Red Cross woman' wording at page 9 and the 'Gwen-doe-lin' Red Cross-woman passage at pages 85-86. First-issue dust jacket carries the printed price (unclipped) and a Jack Kerouac blurb on the front panel; jacket designed by Paul Bacon.
Is this the true first?
US Viking is the true first, preceding the UK Methuen 1962 edition. The pre-revision textual states are the decisive first-issue points beyond binding and jacket.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
The Book-of-the-Month/club edition lacks the 'Published in 1962' first-state copyright wording, has no price on the jacket, carries the revised (post-lawsuit) text, shows a blind-stamp dot on the rear board, and uses cheaper boards.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Kesey's first novel. Copyright page reads 'Published in 1962 by The Viking Press, Inc.' with no later-printing statement. Bright green cloth lettered in yellow on the spine, top edge stained peach. First-state text points (removed in later printings after a lawsuit): the 'fool Red Cross woman' wording at page 9 and the 'Gwen-doe-lin' Red Cross-woman passage at pages 85-86. First-issue dust jacket carries the printed price (unclipped) and a Jack Kerouac blurb on the front panel; jacket designed by Paul Bacon.
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 Viking is the true first, preceding the UK Methuen 1962 edition. The pre-revision textual states are the decisive first-issue points beyond binding and jacket.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
The Book-of-the-Month/club edition lacks the 'Published in 1962' first-state copyright wording, has no price on the jacket, carries the revised (post-lawsuit) text, shows a blind-stamp dot on the rear board, and uses cheaper boards.
I have a first edition of One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest — 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.