The points of issue
Copyright page states 'First Printing.' Gray cloth boards with black and gilt spine lettering; cartographic (map) endpapers; the top edge of the textblock is stained bright pink while the other edges and internal pages are untanned; xii plus 1245 pp. Thick octavo.
Is this the true first?
The US Simon & Schuster edition, published October 17, 1960, is the true first and precedes the UK (Secker & Warburg) edition. A large share of early US sales went through the Book-of-the-Month Club, so club copies are very common.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
The Book-of-the-Month Club edition lacks the 'First Printing' statement, carries a blindstamped dot to the lower-right corner of the rear board, and its jacket bears no printed price. The stated 'First Printing,' the bright pink top-stain, and a price-printed jacket together distinguish the trade first from the ubiquitous club copies.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich: A History of Nazi Germany a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Copyright page states 'First Printing.' Gray cloth boards with black and gilt spine lettering; cartographic (map) endpapers; the top edge of the textblock is stained bright pink while the other edges and internal pages are untanned; xii plus 1245 pp. Thick octavo.
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 Simon & Schuster edition, published October 17, 1960, is the true first and precedes the UK (Secker & Warburg) edition. A large share of early US sales went through the Book-of-the-Month Club, so club copies are very common.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
The Book-of-the-Month Club edition lacks the 'First Printing' statement, carries a blindstamped dot to the lower-right corner of the rear board, and its jacket bears no printed price. The stated 'First Printing,' the bright pink top-stain, and a price-printed jacket together distinguish the trade first from the ubiquitous club copies.
I have a first edition of The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich: A History of Nazi Germany — 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.