The points of issue
Paperback original, Bantam catalog number A2236, 1961. First-printing identified by the original catalog code and period price on the wrappers with no later-printing statement or raised price. Introduces William Tell Sackett; collectors complete the saga as a matched run.
Is this the true first?
The paperback original is the true first; no preceding hardcover. Series collectors prize matched first-printing Bantam runs.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No book-club edition of the original paperback; later Bantam printings differ by price, catalog code, and printing line. Hardcover collection reprints came much later.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Sackett a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Paperback original, Bantam catalog number A2236, 1961. First-printing identified by the original catalog code and period price on the wrappers with no later-printing statement or raised price. Introduces William Tell Sackett; collectors complete the saga as a matched run.
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. The paperback original is the true first; no preceding hardcover. Series collectors prize matched first-printing Bantam runs.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
No book-club edition of the original paperback; later Bantam printings differ by price, catalog code, and printing line. Hardcover collection reprints came much later.
I have a first edition of Sackett — 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.