The points of issue
First printing; black cloth, spine lettered in silver, dust jacket illustrated by John Rowland. UK Heinemann 1960 precedes US Norton 1961.
Is this the true first?
UK Heinemann is the true first; US W. W. Norton followed in 1961.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No book-club issue.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Right to an Answer a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First printing; black cloth, spine lettered in silver, dust jacket illustrated by John Rowland. UK Heinemann 1960 precedes US Norton 1961.
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. UK Heinemann is the true first; US W. W. Norton followed in 1961.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
No book-club issue.
I have a first edition of The Right to an Answer — 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.