The points of issue
First printing carries a stated 'First Printing' on the copyright page. Octavo, 418 pages, cloth over boards with top edge stained black and black endpapers. His McCarthy-era novel set in the live-radio industry.
Is this the true first?
US Random House first; the Jonathan Cape London edition followed in 1951.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Later printings state the printing history; the first printing does not.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Troubled Air a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First printing carries a stated 'First Printing' on the copyright page. Octavo, 418 pages, cloth over boards with top edge stained black and black endpapers. His McCarthy-era novel set in the live-radio industry.
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 Random House first; the Jonathan Cape London edition followed in 1951.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Later printings state the printing history; the first printing does not.
I have a first edition of The Troubled Air — 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.