The points of issue
True first issued by Farrar, Straus and Giroux in 1971, with an introduction by Robert Giroux; it won the National Book Award for Fiction and includes several stories appearing in book form for the first time. Identify by the first-printing statement on the copyright page and a first-issue dust jacket (peacock design) carrying the original price on the front flap.
Is this the true first?
US FSG first (1971) is the true first and the first-thus collected gathering of O'Connor's short fiction.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
A book-club edition exists, distinguishable by smaller/thinner boards, a blind-stamp on the rear board, and a price-clipped or unpriced flap; the true first carries the first-printing statement and a fully priced jacket.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Complete Stories a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: True first issued by Farrar, Straus and Giroux in 1971, with an introduction by Robert Giroux; it won the National Book Award for Fiction and includes several stories appearing in book form for the first time. Identify by the first-printing statement on the copyright page and a first-issue dust jacket (peacock design) carrying the original 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. US FSG first (1971) is the true first and the first-thus collected gathering of O'Connor's short fiction.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
A book-club edition exists, distinguishable by smaller/thinner boards, a blind-stamp on the rear board, and a price-clipped or unpriced flap; the true first carries the first-printing statement and a fully priced jacket.
I have a first edition of The Complete Stories — 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.