The points of issue
First edition states 'FIRST EDITION' on the copyright page with the Knopf Borzoi device. The first printing contains the unexpurgated text that Knopf later toned down; original jacket priced the printed price.
Is this the true first?
US Knopf is the true first; UK Deutsch (1961) is later, and the UK edition's text was bowdlerized while the US first carries the franker passages — a recognized textual distinction.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Book-club edition lacks 'FIRST EDITION', has a blind-stamp, and is on bulkier paper.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Rabbit, Run a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First edition states 'FIRST EDITION' on the copyright page with the Knopf Borzoi device. The first printing contains the unexpurgated text that Knopf later toned down; original jacket priced the printed price.
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 Knopf is the true first; UK Deutsch (1961) is later, and the UK edition's text was bowdlerized while the US first carries the franker passages — a recognized textual distinction.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Book-club edition lacks 'FIRST EDITION', has a blind-stamp, and is on bulkier paper.
I have a first edition of Rabbit, Run — 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.