The points of issue
First edition, first printing issued by Coward-McCann, New York, in 1937; short novel of post-Civil War Missouri, 96 pages, illustrated by Will Crawford, beige cloth-covered boards with brown spine titles. A first shows the 1937 imprint with no later-printing notice on the copyright page.
Is this the true first?
US first edition (Coward-McCann, 1937).
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Later printings exist; confirm the copyright page carries no additional-printing statement.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Romance of Rosy Ridge a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First edition, first printing issued by Coward-McCann, New York, in 1937; short novel of post-Civil War Missouri, 96 pages, illustrated by Will Crawford, beige cloth-covered boards with brown spine titles. A first shows the 1937 imprint with no later-printing notice on the copyright page.
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 first edition (Coward-McCann, 1937).
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Later printings exist; confirm the copyright page carries no additional-printing statement.
I have a first edition of The Romance of Rosy Ridge — 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.