The points of issue
First printing shows the Scribner's 'A' with the printing code 'A-10.58[H]' on the copyright page and the publisher's seal. A short novel. First-state dust jacket priced 3.00 on the front flap with an 'A' on the rear flap.
Is this the true first?
US Scribner first appeared in 1958; the UK Collins edition followed in 1959. The original record's 1959 was the British date, not the true first.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Reprints lack the 'A' and printing code on the copyright page.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Pistol a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First printing shows the Scribner's 'A' with the printing code 'A-10.58[H]' on the copyright page and the publisher's seal. A short novel. First-state dust jacket priced 3.00 on the front flap with an 'A' on the rear flap.
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 Scribner first appeared in 1958; the UK Collins edition followed in 1959. The original record's 1959 was the British date, not the true first.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Reprints lack the 'A' and printing code on the copyright page.
I have a first edition of The Pistol — 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.