The points of issue
Stated First Printing on the copyright page; blue cloth stamped in gold, 388 pages, dust jacket priced 2.95 at the upper flap. Roman a clef drawing on F. Scott Fitzgerald.
Is this the true first?
US Random House first precedes the UK first (The Bodley Head, 1951). Note a separate Random House First Canadian Printing also exists and should not be confused with the US first.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Book club edition exists with a blind-stamp on the rear board and no First Printing statement.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Disenchanted a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Stated First Printing on the copyright page; blue cloth stamped in gold, 388 pages, dust jacket priced 2.95 at the upper flap. Roman a clef drawing on F. Scott Fitzgerald.
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 Random House first precedes the UK first (The Bodley Head, 1951). Note a separate Random House First Canadian Printing also exists and should not be confused with the US first.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Book club edition exists with a blind-stamp on the rear board and no First Printing statement.
I have a first edition of The Disenchanted — 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.