The points of issue
McGuane's first novel. Simon & Schuster first printing with First Edition stated on the copyright page; jacket designed by Paul Bacon, with the original price unclipped on the front flap. Octavo, approximately 220 pp.
Is this the true first?
The US Simon & Schuster edition is the true first, published in 1968 (not 1969). The UK first edition followed from Chapman & Hall.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Book-club reprints lack the original flap price and the stated First Edition; verify against the Simon & Schuster first-printing copyright page.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Sporting Club a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: McGuane's first novel. Simon & Schuster first printing with First Edition stated on the copyright page; jacket designed by Paul Bacon, with the original price unclipped on the front flap. Octavo, approximately 220 pp.
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 is the true first, published in 1968 (not 1969). The UK first edition followed from Chapman & Hall.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Book-club reprints lack the original flap price and the stated First Edition; verify against the Simon & Schuster first-printing copyright page.
I have a first edition of The Sporting Club — 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.