# Is "The Instrument" by John O'Hara a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of The Instrument by John O'Hara (Random House, 1967) is identified by: First edition stated on the copyright page, with no later-printing indication. US first edition (Random House, 1967).

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- First edition stated on the copyright page, with no later-printing indication
- Issued in light-green cloth lettered in gilt with a first-issue dust jacket bearing the original unclipped price on the front flap
- Publisher imprint reads Random House
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | John O'Hara |
| Publisher | Random House |
| Year | 1967 |
| True first | US edition |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | First edition stated on the copyright page, with no later-printing indication |
| Book-club edition exists? | Yes |

## Points of issue
First edition stated on the copyright page, with no later-printing indication. Issued in light-green cloth lettered in gilt with a first-issue dust jacket bearing the original unclipped price on the front flap.

## Is this the true first?
US first edition (Random House, 1967). A UK edition followed from Hodder & Stoughton in 1967. A separate signed limited issue of 300 specially printed and bound copies was also produced.

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
A book club edition exists; it is typically thinner, lacks the price on the jacket flap, and may carry a blind-stamp on the rear board.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *The Instrument* by John O'Hara a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/the-instrument
CC BY 4.0. Part of the Canonical First-Edition Points of Issue dataset (https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/api/first-edition-titles.json). Last reviewed 2026-07-04.