The points of issue
True first is the paperback original, Signet S1584 (1959; copyright 1958). Paperback wraps; no hardcover precedes it. Signet imprint and catalog number identify it.
Is this the true first?
Paperback is the true first. Movie tie-in editions (after the 1972 Peckinpah film and 1994 remake) are much later reprints.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No book-club edition. Distinguish the first Signet from later Signet printings (higher numbers / printing statements) and the tie-in editions.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Getaway a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: True first is the paperback original, Signet S1584 (1959; copyright 1958). Paperback wraps; no hardcover precedes it. Signet imprint and catalog number identify it.
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. Paperback is the true first. Movie tie-in editions (after the 1972 Peckinpah film and 1994 remake) are much later reprints.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
No book-club edition. Distinguish the first Signet from later Signet printings (higher numbers / printing statements) and the tie-in editions.
I have a first edition of The Getaway — 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.