# Is "The Orchard Keeper" by Cormac McCarthy a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of The Orchard Keeper by Cormac McCarthy (Random House, 1965) is identified by: McCarthy's scarce first novel. US Random House is the true first; the UK Andre Deutsch edition (1966) follows.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- McCarthy's scarce first novel. 'First Printing' is stated on the copyright page (not 'First Edition'), with no later-printing line
- Bound in green cloth shelfback over red paper-covered boards, gilt spine lettering with red decoration, the author's initials blind/gilt stamped on the front board, top edge stained green
- First-issue white dust jacket with black and red lettering carries the printed price unclipped and review blurbs on the rear panel (including Ralph Ellison, Robert Penn Warren and James Michener), with the author photo on the rear flap
- Publisher imprint reads Random House
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | Cormac McCarthy |
| Publisher | Random House |
| Year | 1965 |
| True first | US edition |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | McCarthy's scarce first novel. 'First Printing' is stated on the copyright page (not 'First Edition'), with no later-printing line |
| Book-club edition exists? | No |

## Points of issue
McCarthy's scarce first novel. 'First Printing' is stated on the copyright page (not 'First Edition'), with no later-printing line. Bound in green cloth shelfback over red paper-covered boards, gilt spine lettering with red decoration, the author's initials blind/gilt stamped on the front board, top edge stained green. First-issue white dust jacket with black and red lettering carries the printed price unclipped and review blurbs on the rear panel (including Ralph Ellison, Robert Penn Warren and James Michener), with the author photo on the rear flap.

## Is this the true first?
US Random House is the true first; the UK Andre Deutsch edition (1966) follows. Signed or inscribed copies are very scarce.

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No US book-club edition of consequence; later Vintage and Ecco paperbacks lack the 'First Printing' statement and are clearly reprints. Beware ex-library and price-clipped jackets passed off as firsts.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *The Orchard Keeper* by Cormac McCarthy a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/the-orchard-keeper
CC BY 4.0. Part of the Canonical First-Edition Points of Issue dataset (https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/api/first-edition-titles.json). Last reviewed 2026-07-04.