The points of issue
First printing stated on the copyright page, with no later-printing statement. Short novel of roughly 150 pages, blue cloth boards with a facsimile signature in black on the front board, top edge stained blue, in the dust jacket with art by John O'Hara Cosgrave II.
Is this the true first?
US first; the UK Cresset Press edition followed in 1953.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Reprints carry a later-printing notice on the copyright page.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Farmers Hotel a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First printing stated on the copyright page, with no later-printing statement. Short novel of roughly 150 pages, blue cloth boards with a facsimile signature in black on the front board, top edge stained blue, in the dust jacket with art by John O'Hara Cosgrave II.
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 first; the UK Cresset Press edition followed in 1953.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Reprints carry a later-printing notice on the copyright page.
I have a first edition of The Farmers Hotel — 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.