# Is "The Sweet Science" by A. J. Liebling a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of The Sweet Science by A. J. Liebling (The Viking Press, 1956) is identified by: The Viking Press, 1956 - the most acclaimed boxing book, drawn largely from Liebling's New Yorker pieces. The US Viking first is the true first; long regarded as the high spot of American sportswriting.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- The Viking Press, 1956 - the most acclaimed boxing book, drawn largely from Liebling's New Yorker pieces
- First edition is the 1956 Viking issue with the Viking colophon, no later-printing statement, and a first-state dust jacket carrying the printed price
- Publisher imprint reads The Viking Press
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | A. J. Liebling |
| Publisher | The Viking Press |
| Year | 1956 |
| True first | US edition |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | The Viking Press, 1956 - the most acclaimed boxing book, drawn largely from Liebling's New Yorker pieces |
| Book-club edition exists? | Yes |

## Points of issue
The Viking Press, 1956 - the most acclaimed boxing book, drawn largely from Liebling's New Yorker pieces. First edition is the 1956 Viking issue with the Viking colophon, no later-printing statement, and a first-state dust jacket carrying the printed price.

## Is this the true first?
The US Viking first is the true first; long regarded as the high spot of American sportswriting.

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Later printings add impression statements. Verify the 1956 Viking issue with a priced first-state jacket. No significant separate book-club issue is a concern for the genuine first.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *The Sweet Science* by A. J. Liebling a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/the-sweet-science
CC BY 4.0. Part of the Canonical First-Edition Points of Issue dataset (https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/api/first-edition-titles.json). Last reviewed 2026-07-04.