The points of issue
Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, 1973, the genre-blending romance/adventure 'good parts version.' The true first states 'First edition' on the copyright page together with the Harcourt letter line beginning with B (the sequence B C D E). First-state dust jacket priced on the front flap; jacket art by Wendell Minor. Octavo, gray cloth, about 308 pages. The text is framed as an abridgement of 'S. Morgenstern.'
Is this the true first?
The US HBJ first is the true first. Confirm both the 'First edition' statement and the letter line beginning with B; Harcourt used a descending letter line rather than numbers, so the leading 'B' marks the first printing.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Book-club copies lack the jacket price and may carry a blind stamp. Later printings advance the letter line past B or drop the first-edition statement. Confirm the 'First edition' statement plus the B-letter line and the priced first-state jacket.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Princess Bride a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, 1973, the genre-blending romance/adventure 'good parts version.' The true first states 'First edition' on the copyright page together with the Harcourt letter line beginning with B (the sequence B C D E). First-state dust jacket priced on the front flap; jacket art by Wendell Minor. Octavo, gray cloth, about 308 pages. The text is framed as an abridgement of 'S. Morgenstern.'
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. The US HBJ first is the true first. Confirm both the 'First edition' statement and the letter line beginning with B; Harcourt used a descending letter line rather than numbers, so the leading 'B' marks the first printing.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Book-club copies lack the jacket price and may carry a blind stamp. Later printings advance the letter line past B or drop the first-edition statement. Confirm the 'First edition' statement plus the B-letter line and the priced first-state jacket.
I have a first edition of The Princess Bride — 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.