The points of issue
David McKay imprint, 1965; copyright page shows '1965' with no additional dates or printing notices; purple cloth boards with gilt spine; jacket designed by Vivian Berger bearing the original printed price; first-issue art (pre-1969 film). Nichols's first novel.
Is this the true first?
The US David McKay edition of 1965 is the true first and Nichols's debut; filmed in 1969 (Liza Minnelli). Film-tie-in paperbacks are later. Advance reading copies exist in printed blue stiff wrappers.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Distinguished by the McKay imprint, the absence of later-printing notices, and the original priced jacket without film imagery.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Sterile Cuckoo a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: David McKay imprint, 1965; copyright page shows '1965' with no additional dates or printing notices; purple cloth boards with gilt spine; jacket designed by Vivian Berger bearing the original printed price; first-issue art (pre-1969 film). Nichols's first novel.
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 David McKay edition of 1965 is the true first and Nichols's debut; filmed in 1969 (Liza Minnelli). Film-tie-in paperbacks are later. Advance reading copies exist in printed blue stiff wrappers.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Distinguished by the McKay imprint, the absence of later-printing notices, and the original priced jacket without film imagery.
I have a first edition of The Sterile Cuckoo — 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.