The points of issue
"first edition" stated on the copyright page; linked story cycle set in Morgana, Mississippi. First-issue jacket priced the printed price on the front flap.
Is this the true first?
US first edition; the UK edition (The Bodley Head, 1950) follows.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Later reprints drop the "first edition" statement.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Golden Apples a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: "first edition" stated on the copyright page; linked story cycle set in Morgana, Mississippi. First-issue jacket priced the printed price on the front flap.
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; the UK edition (The Bodley Head, 1950) follows.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Later reprints drop the "first edition" statement.
I have a first edition of The Golden Apples — 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.