# Is "Ten North Frederick" by John O'Hara a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of Ten North Frederick by John O'Hara (Random House, 1955) is identified by: First printing stated on the copyright page, with no later-printing slug. US first; the UK Cresset Press edition followed in 1956.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- First printing stated on the copyright page, with no later-printing slug
- Blue cloth with gilt spine lettering, yellow topstain, blue endpapers, title page in orange and black
- National Book Award winner
- Dust jacket designed by Sam Sugar
- Publisher imprint reads Random House
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | John O'Hara |
| Publisher | Random House |
| Year | 1955 |
| True first | US edition |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | First printing stated on the copyright page, with no later-printing slug |
| Book-club edition exists? | Yes |

## Points of issue
First printing stated on the copyright page, with no later-printing slug. Blue cloth with gilt spine lettering, yellow topstain, blue endpapers, title page in orange and black. National Book Award winner. Dust jacket designed by Sam Sugar.

## Is this the true first?
US first; the UK Cresset Press edition followed in 1956.

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
The Book-of-the-Month Club edition lacks the stated first-printing line, typically shows a blind-stamp to the rear board, and carries an unpriced or price-clipped jacket.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *Ten North Frederick* by John O'Hara a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/ten-north-frederick
CC BY 4.0. Part of the Canonical First-Edition Points of Issue dataset (https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/api/first-edition-titles.json). Last reviewed 2026-07-04.