The points of issue
Harper & Brothers, 1954, the source novel for the 1956 John Ford and John Wayne film. The first edition carries the Harper letter-date code H-D on the copyright page, where H corresponds to August and D to 1954, beneath the first-edition designation. First-state jacket carries its printed price. Identify by the H-D code together with the 1954 Harper imprint.
Is this the true first?
The US Harper first is the true first; the source novel for one of the most celebrated Westerns ever filmed, which drives its collectibility.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Book-club copies lack the Harper letter-date code and the priced jacket and may show a blind stamp to the rear board. Verify the H-D code on the copyright page.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Searchers a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Harper & Brothers, 1954, the source novel for the 1956 John Ford and John Wayne film. The first edition carries the Harper letter-date code H-D on the copyright page, where H corresponds to August and D to 1954, beneath the first-edition designation. First-state jacket carries its printed price. Identify by the H-D code together with the 1954 Harper imprint.
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 Harper first is the true first; the source novel for one of the most celebrated Westerns ever filmed, which drives its collectibility.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Book-club copies lack the Harper letter-date code and the priced jacket and may show a blind stamp to the rear board. Verify the H-D code on the copyright page.
I have a first edition of The Searchers — 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.