The points of issue
First printing, published 1935 by Robert M. McBride & Company, New York. Non-fiction Depression-era reportage; Caldwell's first collection of non-fiction pieces.
Is this the true first?
US first edition.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Later printings and reprints exist; a true first is the McBride 1935 issue.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Some American People a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First printing, published 1935 by Robert M. McBride & Company, New York. Non-fiction Depression-era reportage; Caldwell's first collection of non-fiction pieces.
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 edition.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Later printings and reprints exist; a true first is the McBride 1935 issue.
I have a first edition of Some American People — 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.