The points of issue
Farrar, Straus & Giroux, New York, 1966. First edition identified by the FSG copyright-page statement ('First printing, 1966' / 'First published') with no number line and no later-printing notice; first-issue dust jacket carrying the original price to the flap. Approximately 409 pages.
Is this the true first?
The US Farrar, Straus & Giroux edition is the true first; the UK edition follows.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
FSG trade firsts carry the printed first-printing statement and a priced jacket flap; book-club copies lack the flap price and may show a blind gutter dot on the rear board.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Last Gentleman a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Farrar, Straus & Giroux, New York, 1966. First edition identified by the FSG copyright-page statement ('First printing, 1966' / 'First published') with no number line and no later-printing notice; first-issue dust jacket carrying the original price to the flap. Approximately 409 pages.
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 Farrar, Straus & Giroux edition is the true first; the UK edition follows.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
FSG trade firsts carry the printed first-printing statement and a priced jacket flap; book-club copies lack the flap price and may show a blind gutter dot on the rear board.
I have a first edition of The Last Gentleman — 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.