The points of issue
First edition stated 'First Edition' on the copyright page, with the statement removed on later printings, per Doubleday's convention of this era. A collection of Schulberg's reminiscences of six American writers (Sinclair Lewis, William Saroyan, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Nathanael West, Thomas Heggen, and John Steinbeck).
Is this the true first?
US first edition, Doubleday, Garden City, 1972. A revised and expanded version later appeared as Writers in America (Stein and Day, 1983).
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Reprints omit the 'First Edition' statement on the copyright page.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Four Seasons of Success a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First edition stated 'First Edition' on the copyright page, with the statement removed on later printings, per Doubleday's convention of this era. A collection of Schulberg's reminiscences of six American writers (Sinclair Lewis, William Saroyan, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Nathanael West, Thomas Heggen, and John Steinbeck).
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 edition, Doubleday, Garden City, 1972. A revised and expanded version later appeared as Writers in America (Stein and Day, 1983).
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Reprints omit the 'First Edition' statement on the copyright page.
I have a first edition of The Four Seasons of Success — 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.