The points of issue
Capote's first book. Copyright page states 'FIRST PRINTING' per Random House practice. Cloth with green top-stain. First-issue jacket carries the printed price on the front flap and the famous reclining-Capote author photograph (by Harold Halma) on the rear panel.
Is this the true first?
US Random House edition is the true first, preceding the UK Heinemann edition.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Book club copies lack the 'FIRST PRINTING' statement and the front-flap price, and often show a blind-stamp on the rear board.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Other Voices, Other Rooms a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Capote's first book. Copyright page states 'FIRST PRINTING' per Random House practice. Cloth with green top-stain. First-issue jacket carries the printed price on the front flap and the famous reclining-Capote author photograph (by Harold Halma) on the rear panel.
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 Random House edition is the true first, preceding the UK Heinemann edition.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Book club copies lack the 'FIRST PRINTING' statement and the front-flap price, and often show a blind-stamp on the rear board.
I have a first edition of Other Voices, Other Rooms — 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.