The points of issue
The White Album: copyright page carries a complete descending number line ending in 1 (1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10); Simon & Schuster does not print a 'First Edition' or 'First printing' statement here, so identification rests on the full number line plus the unclipped jacket showing the printed price. ISBN 0-671-22685-1; quarter black cloth over red boards.
Is this the true first?
US Simon & Schuster is the true first for The White Album, preceding the UK (Weidenfeld & Nicolson) edition. A distinct collecting target from Slouching Towards Bethlehem (Farrar, Straus & Giroux, 1968), which is cataloged separately.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No major book-club issue distorts this title; confusion is mainly with later Simon & Schuster printings (number line no longer reaching 1). The complete number line plus the priced jacket identify the first.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Slouching Towards Bethlehem — deeper Didion: The White Album a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: The White Album: copyright page carries a complete descending number line ending in 1 (1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10); Simon & Schuster does not print a 'First Edition' or 'First printing' statement here, so identification rests on the full number line plus the unclipped jacket showing the printed price. ISBN 0-671-22685-1; quarter black cloth over red boards.
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 Simon & Schuster is the true first for The White Album, preceding the UK (Weidenfeld & Nicolson) edition. A distinct collecting target from Slouching Towards Bethlehem (Farrar, Straus & Giroux, 1968), which is cataloged separately.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
No major book-club issue distorts this title; confusion is mainly with later Simon & Schuster printings (number line no longer reaching 1). The complete number line plus the priced jacket identify the first.
I have a first edition of Slouching Towards Bethlehem — deeper Didion: The White Album — 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.