The points of issue
Collection of twenty-three stories. The true first carries the words FIRST PRINTING on the copyright page; this is the identifying point, as O'Hara's Random House titles of this period were so marked. Later printings note a printing history instead.
Is this the true first?
United States Random House edition is the true first. The Cresset Press London edition (first English edition) followed and does not precede the American printing.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Later Random House printings are indicated by an altered printing statement on the copyright page rather than the FIRST PRINTING line.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Cape Cod Lighter a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Collection of twenty-three stories. The true first carries the words FIRST PRINTING on the copyright page; this is the identifying point, as O'Hara's Random House titles of this period were so marked. Later printings note a printing history instead.
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. United States Random House edition is the true first. The Cresset Press London edition (first English edition) followed and does not precede the American printing.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Later Random House printings are indicated by an altered printing statement on the copyright page rather than the FIRST PRINTING line.
I have a first edition of The Cape Cod Lighter — 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.