The points of issue
First printing of the considerably expanded and revised UK version. Published 11 October 1957 by Herbert Jenkins, London, under the title Over Seventy. The text is a substantially enlarged reworking of the earlier US book America, I Like You (Simon & Schuster, New York, 3 May 1956).
Is this the true first?
The US America, I Like You (1956) is the earlier-published work and the true first appearance of the core material. The UK Over Seventy (1957) is a distinct, expanded text and a collectible first in its own right. Collectors of the specific Over Seventy title want the 1957 Jenkins printing; those wanting first appearance of the material want the 1956 US book.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
The two editions differ substantially in text, so neither is merely a reprint of the other.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Over Seventy: An Autobiography with Digressions a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First printing of the considerably expanded and revised UK version. Published 11 October 1957 by Herbert Jenkins, London, under the title Over Seventy. The text is a substantially enlarged reworking of the earlier US book America, I Like You (Simon & Schuster, New York, 3 May 1956).
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 US America, I Like You (1956) is the earlier-published work and the true first appearance of the core material. The UK Over Seventy (1957) is a distinct, expanded text and a collectible first in its own right. Collectors of the specific Over Seventy title want the 1957 Jenkins printing; those wa
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
The two editions differ substantially in text, so neither is merely a reprint of the other.
I have a first edition of Over Seventy: An Autobiography with Digressions — 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.