The points of issue
Pale grey/textured grey cloth lettered on spine and front panel, 191 pp. The copyright page carries the 'First Printing' statement with no prior printing history and no number line, published by The Macmillan Company, New York, 1962. First-state jacket priced (often found clipped).
Is this the true first?
US Macmillan (New York) true first.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Confirm the 'First Printing' statement on the copyright page; reprints add later printing notations. Uncommon in first printing.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Other America: Poverty in the United States a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Pale grey/textured grey cloth lettered on spine and front panel, 191 pp. The copyright page carries the 'First Printing' statement with no prior printing history and no number line, published by The Macmillan Company, New York, 1962. First-state jacket priced (often found clipped).
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 Macmillan (New York) true first.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Confirm the 'First Printing' statement on the copyright page; reprints add later printing notations. Uncommon in first printing.
I have a first edition of The Other America: Poverty in the United States — 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.