The points of issue
First edition states 'FIRST EDITION' on the copyright page with the Borzoi colophon. Red cloth, blue lettering and grey decoration to front board and spine, grey top stain; first-issue priced dust jacket designed by John O'Hara Cosgrave II. Third volume of The Awakening Land trilogy; won the 1951 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction, so the first-issue jacket predates any Pulitzer notice.
Is this the true first?
US Knopf 1950 is the true first. Jackets advertising the Pulitzer Prize belong to later printings.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Book-club editions omit the 'FIRST EDITION' statement, carry a Pulitzer-free but unpriced jacket, and show a blind stamp on the rear board.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Town a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First edition states 'FIRST EDITION' on the copyright page with the Borzoi colophon. Red cloth, blue lettering and grey decoration to front board and spine, grey top stain; first-issue priced dust jacket designed by John O'Hara Cosgrave II. Third volume of The Awakening Land trilogy; won the 1951 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction, so the first-issue jacket predates any Pulitzer notice.
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 Knopf 1950 is the true first. Jackets advertising the Pulitzer Prize belong to later printings.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Book-club editions omit the 'FIRST EDITION' statement, carry a Pulitzer-free but unpriced jacket, and show a blind stamp on the rear board.
I have a first edition of The Town — 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.