The points of issue
First printing, with First Edition stated and no later-printing notice. Trade issue in cloth with a George Salter dust-jacket design.
Is this the true first?
US first (Little, Brown, Boston, 1955).
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
A Book-of-the-Month Club edition exists and is identified by the blind-stamped colophon (a small dot or blindstamp) on the rear board; the BOMC issue lacks the First Edition statement.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Sincerely, Willis Wayde a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First printing, with First Edition stated and no later-printing notice. Trade issue in cloth with a George Salter dust-jacket design.
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 first (Little, Brown, Boston, 1955).
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
A Book-of-the-Month Club edition exists and is identified by the blind-stamped colophon (a small dot or blindstamp) on the rear board; the BOMC issue lacks the First Edition statement.
I have a first edition of Sincerely, Willis Wayde — 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.