The points of issue
The story's first book appearance is in the Ballantine collection 'Indian Country' (1953), issued in Ballantine's dual format of the period: a cloth hardcover (dull yellow textured paper-covered boards, in a yellow and red dust jacket, 197 pp.) and a paperback original. The hardcover issue is the elusive one. The collection gathers eleven of Johnson's frontier stories, including this title and 'A Man Called Horse.'
Is this the true first?
The first book appearance is in 'Indian Country' (Ballantine, 1953); Johnson did not publish the story as a standalone. The cloth and wrapper issues are companion Ballantine firsts of that year; later anthology gatherings are first-thus reprints.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Later anthologies and the Gregg Press and University of Nebraska reprints are first-thus, not the 1953 first book appearance.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (in: Indian Country) a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: The story's first book appearance is in the Ballantine collection 'Indian Country' (1953), issued in Ballantine's dual format of the period: a cloth hardcover (dull yellow textured paper-covered boards, in a yellow and red dust jacket, 197 pp.) and a paperback original. The hardcover issue is the elusive one. The collection gathers eleven of Johnson's frontier stories, including this title and 'A Man Called Horse.'
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 first book appearance is in 'Indian Country' (Ballantine, 1953); Johnson did not publish the story as a standalone. The cloth and wrapper issues are companion Ballantine firsts of that year; later anthology gatherings are first-thus reprints.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Later anthologies and the Gregg Press and University of Nebraska reprints are first-thus, not the 1953 first book appearance.
I have a first edition of The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (in: Indian Country) — 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.