The points of issue
First printing stated on the copyright page, with no later-printing notice present. Short-story collection with a preface by Wolcott Gibbs. Original cloth in the decorated dust jacket.
Is this the true first?
US first. The UK Faber and Faber edition followed in 1946, not 1945, so the Duell, Sloan and Pearce printing holds precedence as the true first.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Later printings carry a later-printing notice on the copyright page. Note also the separate 1946 Forum Books reprint edition, which is not the first.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Pipe Night a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First printing stated on the copyright page, with no later-printing notice present. Short-story collection with a preface by Wolcott Gibbs. Original cloth in the decorated dust jacket.
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 first. The UK Faber and Faber edition followed in 1946, not 1945, so the Duell, Sloan and Pearce printing holds precedence as the true first.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Later printings carry a later-printing notice on the copyright page. Note also the separate 1946 Forum Books reprint edition, which is not the first.
I have a first edition of Pipe Night — 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.