The points of issue
'First printing' stated on the copyright page. Blue cloth, spine lettered in gilt with red and black, facsimile Vonnegut signature stamped in gilt on the front cover, black endpapers, 186 pp. First-issue jacket carries the printed price at the upper corner of the front flap with rear code 0369; jacket design by Paul Bacon.
Is this the true first?
US Delacorte Press / Seymour Lawrence is the true first; it precedes the UK Jonathan Cape edition of 1970.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Book-club copies lack the 'First printing' statement, carry an unpriced jacket, are blind-stamped or dot-marked on the rear board, and are often slightly smaller with cheaper boards.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Slaughterhouse-Five, or The Children's Crusade a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: 'First printing' stated on the copyright page. Blue cloth, spine lettered in gilt with red and black, facsimile Vonnegut signature stamped in gilt on the front cover, black endpapers, 186 pp. First-issue jacket carries the printed price at the upper corner of the front flap with rear code 0369; jacket design by Paul Bacon.
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 Delacorte Press / Seymour Lawrence is the true first; it precedes the UK Jonathan Cape edition of 1970.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Book-club copies lack the 'First printing' statement, carry an unpriced jacket, are blind-stamped or dot-marked on the rear board, and are often slightly smaller with cheaper boards.
I have a first edition of Slaughterhouse-Five, or The Children's Crusade — 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.