# Is "The Thin Red Line" by James Jones a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of The Thin Red Line by James Jones (Charles Scribner's Sons, 1962) is identified by: First printing shows the Scribner's 'A' with the printing code 'A-6.62[H]' on the copyright page and the publisher's seal. US Scribner first; UK Collins followed in 1963.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- First printing shows the Scribner's 'A' with the printing code 'A-6.62[H]' on the copyright page and the publisher's seal
- WWII Guadalcanal novel; first edition includes the Rafael Palacios endpaper maps and the sheet music in the rear
- Publisher imprint reads Charles Scribner's Sons
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | James Jones |
| Publisher | Charles Scribner's Sons |
| Year | 1962 |
| True first | US edition |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | First printing shows the Scribner's 'A' with the printing code 'A-6.62[H]' on the copyright page and the publisher's seal |
| Book-club edition exists? | Yes |

## Points of issue
First printing shows the Scribner's 'A' with the printing code 'A-6.62[H]' on the copyright page and the publisher's seal. WWII Guadalcanal novel; first edition includes the Rafael Palacios endpaper maps and the sheet music in the rear.

## Is this the true first?
US Scribner first; UK Collins followed in 1963.

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Book club edition lacks the 'A' and printing code and carries a blind-stamp on the rear board.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *The Thin Red Line* by James Jones a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/the-thin-red-line
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.