The points of issue
First printing with no statement of a later printing on the copyright page. Publisher's quarter yellow cloth over orange boards, stamped in black, top edge stained black. Priced dust jacket present. Story collection of twenty-one stories.
Is this the true first?
US Simon & Schuster first edition, New York, 1964.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
A Bantam paperback edition followed and is a separate, later issue; the Simon & Schuster hardcover precedes it.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Machineries of Joy a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First printing with no statement of a later printing on the copyright page. Publisher's quarter yellow cloth over orange boards, stamped in black, top edge stained black. Priced dust jacket present. Story collection of twenty-one stories.
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 Simon & Schuster first edition, New York, 1964.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
A Bantam paperback edition followed and is a separate, later issue; the Simon & Schuster hardcover precedes it.
I have a first edition of The Machineries of Joy — 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.