The points of issue
First edition, first printing: copyright page with 'FIRST EDITION' (Norton period statement) and no later-printing codes. Original dust jacket priced (about the printed price) with the first-issue design. Issued February 1963.
Is this the true first?
US Norton 1963 is the true first, preceding the UK Victor Gollancz edition (1963). Signed Friedan copies are scarce and desirable. Landmark of second-wave feminism.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Book club editions lack the 'FIRST EDITION' statement, are slightly smaller, carry a blind board stamp, and have unpriced jackets.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Feminine Mystique a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First edition, first printing: copyright page with 'FIRST EDITION' (Norton period statement) and no later-printing codes. Original dust jacket priced (about the printed price) with the first-issue design. Issued February 1963.
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 Norton 1963 is the true first, preceding the UK Victor Gollancz edition (1963). Signed Friedan copies are scarce and desirable. Landmark of second-wave feminism.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Book club editions lack the 'FIRST EDITION' statement, are slightly smaller, carry a blind board stamp, and have unpriced jackets.
I have a first edition of The Feminine Mystique — 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.