# Is "The Doorbell Rang" by Rex Stout a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of The Doorbell Rang by Rex Stout (The Viking Press, 1965) is identified by: US Viking first, 1965: the copyright page reads 'First published in 1965 by The Viking Press' with no later-printing notice, and the book is printed by the Colonial Press. The US Viking 1965 hardcover is the true first; the UK Collins Crime Club edition (1966) is a later first-thus.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- US Viking first, 1965: the copyright page reads 'First published in 1965 by The Viking Press' with no later-printing notice, and the book is printed by the Colonial Press
- A Nero Wolfe novel of 186 pages
- Publisher imprint reads The Viking Press
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | Rex Stout |
| Publisher | The Viking Press |
| Year | 1965 |
| True first | US edition |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | US Viking first, 1965: the copyright page reads 'First published in 1965 by The Viking Press' with no later-printing notice, and the book… |
| Book-club edition exists? | Yes |

## Points of issue
US Viking first, 1965: the copyright page reads 'First published in 1965 by The Viking Press' with no later-printing notice, and the book is printed by the Colonial Press. A Nero Wolfe novel of 186 pages.

## Is this the true first?
The US Viking 1965 hardcover is the true first; the UK Collins Crime Club edition (1966) is a later first-thus.

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
The silver bullseye (Viking device) and silver spine lettering on red boards with a black spine mark the Viking first (a the printed price flap, 'Printed in the USA by Colonial Press'); the book-club copy is plain red with no silver spine device and runs about a quarter-inch taller. No 'Book Club Edition' flap marking. (identification per rexstoutfirsts.com)

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *The Doorbell Rang* by Rex Stout a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/the-doorbell-rang
CC BY 4.0. Part of the Canonical First-Edition Points of Issue dataset (https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/api/first-edition-titles.json). Last reviewed 2026-07-04.