The points of issue
First edition, first printing, Duell, Sloan and Pearce, New York, 1949. Copyright page carries the First Edition statement. Octavo in light blue cloth, titles stamped in red on spine and front cover, red top stain, in dust jacket; collation runs to 244 pp.
Is this the true first?
US edition is the true first. A UK edition followed in 1950.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Later printings lack the First Edition statement. The title appears on the title page as Place Called Estherville, though it is frequently catalogued as A Place Called Estherville.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Place Called Estherville a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First edition, first printing, Duell, Sloan and Pearce, New York, 1949. Copyright page carries the First Edition statement. Octavo in light blue cloth, titles stamped in red on spine and front cover, red top stain, in dust jacket; collation runs to 244 pp.
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 edition is the true first. A UK edition followed in 1950.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Later printings lack the First Edition statement. The title appears on the title page as Place Called Estherville, though it is frequently catalogued as A Place Called Estherville.
I have a first edition of Place Called Estherville — 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.