The points of issue
Duplicate cross-reference; see main Ox-Bow entry. The true first carries 'First Printing' on the copyright page, in tan/oatmeal cloth with brown spine lettering and the Random House device on the title page and spine. The top edge is dyed gray; 8vo, 309 pages.
Is this the true first?
US Random House 1940 is the true first (cross-listed here for the awards/film shelf).
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Later printings drop the 'First Printing' statement. Do not confuse the Modern Library issue (running-torchbearer colophon) or other reprints with the trade first.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Ox-Bow Incident (film/award context) a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Duplicate cross-reference; see main Ox-Bow entry. The true first carries 'First Printing' on the copyright page, in tan/oatmeal cloth with brown spine lettering and the Random House device on the title page and spine. The top edge is dyed gray; 8vo, 309 pages.
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 Random House 1940 is the true first (cross-listed here for the awards/film shelf).
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Later printings drop the 'First Printing' statement. Do not confuse the Modern Library issue (running-torchbearer colophon) or other reprints with the trade first.
I have a first edition of The Ox-Bow Incident (film/award context) — 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.