# Is "Rich Man, Poor Man" by Irwin Shaw a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of Rich Man, Poor Man by Irwin Shaw (Delacorte Press, 1970) is identified by: First printing is identified by the words First printing stated on the copyright page, with no later printings listed. US Delacorte edition is the true first.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- First printing is identified by the words First printing stated on the copyright page, with no later printings listed
- Delacorte of this era used a stated First printing line rather than a number row
- Issued in red cloth boards with gilt spine lettering in a dust jacket carrying the original price
- Publisher imprint reads Delacorte Press
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | Irwin Shaw |
| Publisher | Delacorte Press |
| Year | 1970 |
| True first | US edition |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | First printing is identified by the words First printing stated on the copyright page, with no later printings listed |
| Book-club edition exists? | Yes |

## Points of issue
First printing is identified by the words First printing stated on the copyright page, with no later printings listed. Delacorte of this era used a stated First printing line rather than a number row. Issued in red cloth boards with gilt spine lettering in a dust jacket carrying the original price.

## Is this the true first?
US Delacorte edition is the true first. The UK first followed from Weidenfeld and Nicolson, also 1970.

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Book club printings (Book-of-the-Month Club and Literary Guild) are common and lack the First printing statement; they are typically identified by a blind-stamped dot or square on the rear board and a dust jacket with no printed price.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *Rich Man, Poor Man* by Irwin Shaw a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/rich-man-poor-man
CC BY 4.0. Part of the Canonical First-Edition Points of Issue dataset (https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/api/first-edition-titles.json). Last reviewed 2026-07-04.