The points of issue
'First Edition' stated on the copyright page with no later-printing line. Black cloth boards with gilt spine lettering; first-state jacket priced on the front flap. 693 pages.
Is this the true first?
The US Knopf hardcover (1978) is the true first. The collection won the 1979 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction and the National Book Critics Circle Award; the 1981 National Book Award it received was for the paperback edition, not the 1978 hardcover. Signed copies exist.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
The book-club issue lacks the 'First Edition' statement, is slightly smaller, carries a blind-stamp on the rear board, and its jacket bears no flap price (often marked 'Book Club Edition').
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Stories of John Cheever a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: 'First Edition' stated on the copyright page with no later-printing line. Black cloth boards with gilt spine lettering; first-state jacket priced on the front flap. 693 pages.
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 Knopf hardcover (1978) is the true first. The collection won the 1979 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction and the National Book Critics Circle Award; the 1981 National Book Award it received was for the paperback edition, not the 1978 hardcover. Signed copies exist.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
The book-club issue lacks the 'First Edition' statement, is slightly smaller, carries a blind-stamp on the rear board, and its jacket bears no flap price (often marked 'Book Club Edition').
I have a first edition of The Stories of John Cheever — 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.