The points of issue
Correct book is "The Grass Harp: A Play" alone, not a combined volume. First edition in rough beige cloth with a printed paper title label on the front panel, a green topstain, and dust jacket; the dramatized stage version of the 1951 novella, illustrated with scenes from the 1952 Broadway production. A small first printing.
Is this the true first?
US first edition of the play text; first appearance of the dramatization in book form.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No book-club issue is recorded; the small original printing is the first.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Grass Harp (play) and A Tree of Night a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Correct book is "The Grass Harp: A Play" alone, not a combined volume. First edition in rough beige cloth with a printed paper title label on the front panel, a green topstain, and dust jacket; the dramatized stage version of the 1951 novella, illustrated with scenes from the 1952 Broadway production. A small first printing.
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 of the play text; first appearance of the dramatization in book form.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
No book-club issue is recorded; the small original printing is the first.
I have a first edition of The Grass Harp (play) and A Tree of Night — 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.