The points of issue
Copyright page carries a stated 'First Printing' for the true first. First-issue jacket carries the printed price on the front flap. Winner of the Pulitzer Prize and the National Book Award.
Is this the true first?
US New American Library is the true first, preceding the UK Weidenfeld & Nicolson edition of 1968.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Book-club issue lacks the stated first-printing line, is typically blind-stamped on the rear board, and comes in an unpriced jacket.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Armies of the Night a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Copyright page carries a stated 'First Printing' for the true first. First-issue jacket carries the printed price on the front flap. Winner of the Pulitzer Prize and the National Book Award.
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 New American Library is the true first, preceding the UK Weidenfeld & Nicolson edition of 1968.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Book-club issue lacks the stated first-printing line, is typically blind-stamped on the rear board, and comes in an unpriced jacket.
I have a first edition of The Armies of the Night — 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.