The points of issue
Black cloth with silver spine lettering; copyright page carries Macmillan's first-printing statement; first-state dust jacket is priced.
Is this the true first?
US edition from The Macmillan Company (New York) is the true first. The UK edition appeared as 'Sand Against the Wind: Stilwell and the American Experience in China' (Macmillan, London); the US issue under the 'Stilwell' title is the precedent text. Won the Pulitzer Prize for General Nonfiction (Tuchman's second) in 1972.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Book-of-the-Month Club issue exists; club copies lack the first-printing statement and the jacket price and often show a blind-stamp on the rear board.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Stilwell and the American Experience in China, 1911-45 a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Black cloth with silver spine lettering; copyright page carries Macmillan's first-printing statement; first-state dust jacket is priced.
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 edition from The Macmillan Company (New York) is the true first. The UK edition appeared as 'Sand Against the Wind: Stilwell and the American Experience in China' (Macmillan, London); the US issue under the 'Stilwell' title is the precedent text. Won the Pulitzer Prize for General Nonfiction (Tuc
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Book-of-the-Month Club issue exists; club copies lack the first-printing statement and the jacket price and often show a blind-stamp on the rear board.
I have a first edition of Stilwell and the American Experience in China, 1911-45 — 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.