The points of issue
Published by Duell, Sloan and Pearce, New York, 1940; 195pp. Collects the New Yorker "Pal Joey" letters/sketches. First printing carries no statement of a later printing.
Is this the true first?
The US Duell, Sloan and Pearce printing is the true first.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Later musical/tie-in issues exist, including a variant jacket associated with the stage and film adaptations.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Pal Joey a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Published by Duell, Sloan and Pearce, New York, 1940; 195pp. Collects the New Yorker "Pal Joey" letters/sketches. First printing carries no statement of a later printing.
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 Duell, Sloan and Pearce printing is the true first.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Later musical/tie-in issues exist, including a variant jacket associated with the stage and film adaptations.
I have a first edition of Pal Joey — 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.