The points of issue
Paperback original, Bantam catalog number A1933 (not A2068), published February 1960, original cover price 35 cents, yellow-tinted page edges. The first published Sackett novel, launching the family saga. The true first printing shows the A1933 catalog code with no later-printing statement or raised price on the wrappers and copyright page.
Is this the true first?
The paperback original is the true first; through this period L'Amour was published first in paperback, so there is no preceding hardcover. Note that chronologically within the saga The Daybreakers falls later, but it was the first Sackett title published. Later Bantam reissues carry revised cover art and higher catalog numbers.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No book-club edition of the original paperback; distinguish the first printing by the A1933 catalog number, 35-cent price, and absence of a later-printing line. Later printings raise the price and change the catalog code. Hardcover collection reprints came much later.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Daybreakers a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Paperback original, Bantam catalog number A1933 (not A2068), published February 1960, original cover price 35 cents, yellow-tinted page edges. The first published Sackett novel, launching the family saga. The true first printing shows the A1933 catalog code with no later-printing statement or raised price on the wrappers and copyright page.
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 paperback original is the true first; through this period L'Amour was published first in paperback, so there is no preceding hardcover. Note that chronologically within the saga The Daybreakers falls later, but it was the first Sackett title published. Later Bantam reissues carry revised cover a
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
No book-club edition of the original paperback; distinguish the first printing by the A1933 catalog number, 35-cent price, and absence of a later-printing line. Later printings raise the price and change the catalog code. Hardcover collection reprints came much later.
I have a first edition of The Daybreakers — 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.