The points of issue
Blue cloth with gilt spine lettering; 688 pp; ISBN 0-394-46163-0. Copyright page states 'First Edition' with a number line whose lowest number is 2, which is the Random House first-printing convention for this period. First-issue jacket with the printed price on the front flap.
Is this the true first?
The US Random House edition is the true first and precedes the UK (Barrie & Jenkins) edition. The 2001 Modern Library edition with a new introduction is a first thus.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
The Book-of-the-Month Club edition omits the printed price on the jacket, carries a blindstamp to the rear board, and lacks the 'First Edition' statement. The stated 'First Edition' plus a number line bottoming at 2 and a price-printed jacket identify the trade first.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Best and the Brightest a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Blue cloth with gilt spine lettering; 688 pp; ISBN 0-394-46163-0. Copyright page states 'First Edition' with a number line whose lowest number is 2, which is the Random House first-printing convention for this period. First-issue jacket with the printed price on the front flap.
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. The US Random House edition is the true first and precedes the UK (Barrie & Jenkins) edition. The 2001 Modern Library edition with a new introduction is a first thus.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
The Book-of-the-Month Club edition omits the printed price on the jacket, carries a blindstamp to the rear board, and lacks the 'First Edition' statement. The stated 'First Edition' plus a number line bottoming at 2 and a price-printed jacket identify the trade first.
I have a first edition of The Best and the Brightest — 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.