The points of issue
The true first is the Modern Library paperback original of 1952, catalog number P22, priced 95 cents on the cover. This is a paperback original and is the actual first book appearance. The novella had appeared in the magazine Discovery in 1952.
Is this the true first?
True first book appearance is the 1952 Modern Library paperback original (P22). No US hardcover appeared for many years afterward. The record's earlier framing (a 1961 Vintage V-159 paperback original or a 1956 hardcover as the true first) is incorrect.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No book club edition is the issue here; the point of issue is recognizing the 1952 Modern Library paperback original as the true first, identified by the P22 designation and 95-cent price.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Long March a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: The true first is the Modern Library paperback original of 1952, catalog number P22, priced 95 cents on the cover. This is a paperback original and is the actual first book appearance. The novella had appeared in the magazine Discovery in 1952.
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. True first book appearance is the 1952 Modern Library paperback original (P22). No US hardcover appeared for many years afterward. The record's earlier framing (a 1961 Vintage V-159 paperback original or a 1956 hardcover as the true first) is incorrect.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
No book club edition is the issue here; the point of issue is recognizing the 1952 Modern Library paperback original as the true first, identified by the P22 designation and 95-cent price.
I have a first edition of The Long March — 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.