The points of issue
First edition so stated, first state with the textual point: the final line of type at the foot of page 270 is duplicated at the head of page 271. Issued in brown cloth, front cover blind-stamped, with the first-issue priced pictorial dust jacket. Original 1965 text, later revised with a new Afterword in 1976.
Is this the true first?
True first is the 1965 Houghton Mifflin edition. This was his first novel under his own name, following the earlier 'Joseph Novak' nonfiction. UK edition: W. H. Allen, 1966.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Book club edition is blind-stamped to the rear board, lacks the printed price, and is noted as a book club edition on the jacket flap.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Painted Bird a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First edition so stated, first state with the textual point: the final line of type at the foot of page 270 is duplicated at the head of page 271. Issued in brown cloth, front cover blind-stamped, with the first-issue priced pictorial dust jacket. Original 1965 text, later revised with a new Afterword in 1976.
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. True first is the 1965 Houghton Mifflin edition. This was his first novel under his own name, following the earlier 'Joseph Novak' nonfiction. UK edition: W. H. Allen, 1966.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Book club edition is blind-stamped to the rear board, lacks the printed price, and is noted as a book club edition on the jacket flap.
I have a first edition of The Painted Bird — 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.