The points of issue
Cloth; 1955 first issue with no later-printing statement; first-state dust jacket priced. Grew out of his Richard Lectures at the University of Virginia.
Is this the true first?
US Oxford University Press (New York) true first edition. The later revised and enlarged editions are 'first thus,' not the true first.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Multiple revised editions followed; the 1955 first printing is the true first. Verify the absence of revision or later-printing statements on the copyright page.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Strange Career of Jim Crow a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Cloth; 1955 first issue with no later-printing statement; first-state dust jacket priced. Grew out of his Richard Lectures at the University of Virginia.
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. US Oxford University Press (New York) true first edition. The later revised and enlarged editions are 'first thus,' not the true first.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Multiple revised editions followed; the 1955 first printing is the true first. Verify the absence of revision or later-printing statements on the copyright page.
I have a first edition of The Strange Career of Jim Crow — 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.