The points of issue
Houghton Mifflin (Riverside Press, Cambridge) first; yellow cloth stamped in black; 1946 on the title and copyright pages with no later-printing line; 195 pages; first-issue dust jacket. McCullers's third book.
Is this the true first?
US Houghton Mifflin is the true first; the UK Cresset Press edition (1947) follows. The later stage-play adaptation is a separate publication.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
The book-club edition lacks a flap price and bears a blind-stamped board and a 'Book Club Edition' notice; the trade first has the clean 1946 copyright page and the priced first-issue jacket.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Member of the Wedding a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Houghton Mifflin (Riverside Press, Cambridge) first; yellow cloth stamped in black; 1946 on the title and copyright pages with no later-printing line; 195 pages; first-issue dust jacket. McCullers's third book.
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 Houghton Mifflin is the true first; the UK Cresset Press edition (1947) follows. The later stage-play adaptation is a separate publication.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
The book-club edition lacks a flap price and bears a blind-stamped board and a 'Book Club Edition' notice; the trade first has the clean 1946 copyright page and the priced first-issue jacket.
I have a first edition of The Member of the Wedding — 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.