The points of issue
First edition, first printing, Random House, New York, 1945, blue-grey cloth with violet and cream lettering and the top edge stained grey-violet, in the dust jacket priced 2.00 on the front flap. The US Random House edition precedes the UK Methuen edition of 1946.
Is this the true first?
US Random House (1945) is the true first; the UK Methuen edition followed in 1946.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No book-club issue.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Prater Violet a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First edition, first printing, Random House, New York, 1945, blue-grey cloth with violet and cream lettering and the top edge stained grey-violet, in the dust jacket priced 2.00 on the front flap. The US Random House edition precedes the UK Methuen edition of 1946.
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 (1945) is the true first; the UK Methuen edition followed in 1946.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
No book-club issue.
I have a first edition of Prater Violet — 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.