The points of issue
First edition issued by Coward-McCann, New York, in 1932; blue cloth-covered boards with white titles on front and spine, 294 pages. No number line was used; a first shows the 1932 imprint with no later-printing notice on the copyright page.
Is this the true first?
US first edition (Coward-McCann, 1932).
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Reprints exist; confirm the copyright page carries no additional-printing statement.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Jaybird a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First edition issued by Coward-McCann, New York, in 1932; blue cloth-covered boards with white titles on front and spine, 294 pages. No number line was used; a first shows the 1932 imprint with no later-printing notice on the copyright page.
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 (Coward-McCann, 1932).
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Reprints exist; confirm the copyright page carries no additional-printing statement.
I have a first edition of The Jaybird — 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.