# Is "Signal Thirty-Two" by MacKinlay Kantor a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of Signal Thirty-Two by MacKinlay Kantor (Random House, 1950) is identified by: Random House first edition of this NYPD novel, identified by 'FIRST EDITION' stated on the copyright page; the notation is removed on later printings. US first edition, published by Random House in 1950.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- Random House first edition of this NYPD novel, identified by 'FIRST EDITION' stated on the copyright page; the notation is removed on later printings
- The first-issue dust jacket carries art by the author's wife, Irene Layne Kantor, and its printed price, unclipped
- Publisher imprint reads Random House
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | MacKinlay Kantor |
| Publisher | Random House |
| Year | 1950 |
| True first | US edition |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | Random House first edition of this NYPD novel, identified by 'FIRST EDITION' stated on the copyright page; the notation is removed on later… |
| Book-club edition exists? | Yes |

## Points of issue
Random House first edition of this NYPD novel, identified by 'FIRST EDITION' stated on the copyright page; the notation is removed on later printings. The first-issue dust jacket carries art by the author's wife, Irene Layne Kantor, and its printed price, unclipped.

## Is this the true first?
US first edition, published by Random House in 1950. Dealers describe the first as 'First Edition; First Printing.'

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
A book-club edition exists and is offered as such by dealers; the BCE lacks the stated 'FIRST EDITION' line, is typically printed on thinner bulk with a blind-stamp to the rear board, and its jacket bears no printed price. Confirm the stated-first notation and the priced jacket.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *Signal Thirty-Two* by MacKinlay Kantor a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/signal-thirty-two
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.