The points of issue
'First Edition' stated on the copyright page; thick octavo quarter-bound in yellow cloth over blue boards; first-state dust jacket designed by Edward Gorey with the printed price 7.50 (the record's 6.95 was incorrect). Original longer text, later revised and abridged for the 1967 edition.
Is this the true first?
True first 1960 Doubleday. The 1967 revised text from Doubleday is a first thus. UK: Secker & Warburg, 1961.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
A book-club edition exists; identify it by the blind-stamp on the rear board, an unpriced jacket, lighter weight, and the absence of the 'First Edition' statement.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Sot-Weed Factor a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: 'First Edition' stated on the copyright page; thick octavo quarter-bound in yellow cloth over blue boards; first-state dust jacket designed by Edward Gorey with the printed price 7.50 (the record's 6.95 was incorrect). Original longer text, later revised and abridged for the 1967 edition.
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. True first 1960 Doubleday. The 1967 revised text from Doubleday is a first thus. UK: Secker & Warburg, 1961.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
A book-club edition exists; identify it by the blind-stamp on the rear board, an unpriced jacket, lighter weight, and the absence of the 'First Edition' statement.
I have a first edition of The Sot-Weed Factor — 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.