The points of issue
First edition published by Simon & Schuster, New York, March 1971, with 'First printing' stated on the copyright page, 226 pages, cover photography by Edmund Shea. Issued simultaneously in a hardcover (printed cloth boards with photo-illustrated dust jacket) and in printed photo-illustrated wrappers. Brautigan's first trade hardcover from a major house.
Is this the true first?
True first is the 1971 Simon & Schuster edition. The collectible form is the stated-first-printing hardcover in the priced first-issue jacket; the simultaneous softcover wrappers issue is also a 1971 first.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
A Simon & Schuster book club edition exists, distinguished by the usual lack of a printed jacket price and a blind-stamp impression on the rear board.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Abortion: An Historical Romance 1966 a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First edition published by Simon & Schuster, New York, March 1971, with 'First printing' stated on the copyright page, 226 pages, cover photography by Edmund Shea. Issued simultaneously in a hardcover (printed cloth boards with photo-illustrated dust jacket) and in printed photo-illustrated wrappers. Brautigan's first trade hardcover from a major house.
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. True first is the 1971 Simon & Schuster edition. The collectible form is the stated-first-printing hardcover in the priced first-issue jacket; the simultaneous softcover wrappers issue is also a 1971 first.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
A Simon & Schuster book club edition exists, distinguished by the usual lack of a printed jacket price and a blind-stamp impression on the rear board.
I have a first edition of The Abortion: An Historical Romance 1966 — 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.