The points of issue
Published under the pseudonym 'Claire Morgan.' Issued in a single Coward-McCann hardcover printing in 1952: quarter black cloth over green boards with red stamping; no later-printing statement; first-issue jacket carries the printed price. Later reissued as 'Carol.'
Is this the true first?
US Coward-McCann hardcover (1952, as Claire Morgan) is the true first. The Bantam paperback (1953) is a later printing, and the 'Carol'-titled editions are much later.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
The 1953 Bantam paperback is frequently mistaken for the first; it is a reprint. No hardcover book-club edition of note.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Price of Salt a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Published under the pseudonym 'Claire Morgan.' Issued in a single Coward-McCann hardcover printing in 1952: quarter black cloth over green boards with red stamping; no later-printing statement; first-issue jacket carries the printed price. Later reissued as 'Carol.'
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 Coward-McCann hardcover (1952, as Claire Morgan) is the true first. The Bantam paperback (1953) is a later printing, and the 'Carol'-titled editions are much later.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
The 1953 Bantam paperback is frequently mistaken for the first; it is a reprint. No hardcover book-club edition of note.
I have a first edition of The Price of Salt — 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.