The points of issue
"First Printing" stated on the copyright page per Random House convention of the period (no number line). First-issue dust jacket priced 5.95 on the front flap.
Is this the true first?
US (Random House) is the true first; the UK edition (Hamish Hamilton, 1961) follows.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Book club edition is blind-stamped, lacks the flap price, and lacks the "First Printing" statement.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Set This House on Fire a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: "First Printing" stated on the copyright page per Random House convention of the period (no number line). First-issue dust jacket priced 5.95 on the front flap.
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) is the true first; the UK edition (Hamish Hamilton, 1961) follows.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Book club edition is blind-stamped, lacks the flap price, and lacks the "First Printing" statement.
I have a first edition of Set This House on Fire — 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.