# Is "Sermons and Soda-Water" by John O'Hara a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of Sermons and Soda-Water by John O'Hara (Random House, 1960) is identified by: Three short novels issued together as a three-volume set housed in a publisher's slipcase: 'The Girl on the Baggage Truck,' 'Imagine Kissing Pete,' and 'We're Friends Again.' First printing carries no later-printing statement. US first (Random House, New York, 1960); UK Cresset Press 1961.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- Three short novels issued together as a three-volume set housed in a publisher's slipcase: 'The Girl on the Baggage Truck,' 'Imagine Kissing Pete,' and 'We're Friends Again.' First printing carries no later-printing statement
- A signed issue with a tipped-in leaf signed by O'Hara in the first volume was prepared for the Kroch's & Brentano's First Edition Circle
- Publisher imprint reads Random House
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | John O'Hara |
| Publisher | Random House |
| Year | 1960 |
| True first | US edition |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | Three short novels issued together as a three-volume set housed in a publisher's slipcase: 'The Girl on the Baggage Truck,' 'Imagine… |
| Book-club edition exists? | — |

## Points of issue
Three short novels issued together as a three-volume set housed in a publisher's slipcase: 'The Girl on the Baggage Truck,' 'Imagine Kissing Pete,' and 'We're Friends Again.' First printing carries no later-printing statement. A signed issue with a tipped-in leaf signed by O'Hara in the first volume was prepared for the Kroch's & Brentano's First Edition Circle.

## Is this the true first?
US first (Random House, New York, 1960); UK Cresset Press 1961.

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Later trade reprints lose the original three-volume slipcased first-printing state.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *Sermons and Soda-Water* by John O'Hara a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/sermons-and-soda-water
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.