The points of issue
Original lime paper-covered boards, stamped in black, in an unclipped dust jacket priced 4.95; octavo, 248 pp.; jacket blurb by Andrew Lytle. Crews's first novel and first book; first printing of roughly 4,000 copies per the Ahearn Author Price Guide.
Is this the true first?
The US William Morrow 1968 edition is the true first. The UK first is Secker & Warburg.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Book-club issue: blind-stamp to the rear board, no price on the jacket, and cheaper boards; lacks the Morrow first-issue points.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Gospel Singer a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Original lime paper-covered boards, stamped in black, in an unclipped dust jacket priced 4.95; octavo, 248 pp.; jacket blurb by Andrew Lytle. Crews's first novel and first book; first printing of roughly 4,000 copies per the Ahearn Author Price Guide.
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. The US William Morrow 1968 edition is the true first. The UK first is Secker & Warburg.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Book-club issue: blind-stamp to the rear board, no price on the jacket, and cheaper boards; lacks the Morrow first-issue points.
I have a first edition of The Gospel Singer — 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.