The points of issue
True first is the paperback original, Fawcett Crest s375 (1958). Paperback wraps; no hardcover precedes it. Crest imprint and catalog number; classic Gil Brewer PBO noir. Reprinted by Hard Case Crime in 2007 (a modern first-thus).
Is this the true first?
Paperback is the true first. Gil Brewer was a Gold Medal/Crest paperback-original author; the vintage Crest is the first appearance.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No book-club edition. Distinguish the vintage Crest first from the 2007 Hard Case Crime reprint.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Vengeful Virgin a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: True first is the paperback original, Fawcett Crest s375 (1958). Paperback wraps; no hardcover precedes it. Crest imprint and catalog number; classic Gil Brewer PBO noir. Reprinted by Hard Case Crime in 2007 (a modern first-thus).
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. Paperback is the true first. Gil Brewer was a Gold Medal/Crest paperback-original author; the vintage Crest is the first appearance.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
No book-club edition. Distinguish the vintage Crest first from the 2007 Hard Case Crime reprint.
I have a first edition of The Vengeful Virgin — 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.