The points of issue
First printing carries the Harper two-letter code on the copyright page reading B-G, which denotes February 1957 (first letter = month, second letter = year, with G = 1957), and shows no statement of a later printing. Issued in green cloth boards backed in dark blue cloth, 307 numbered pages. Cheever's first novel; won the 1958 National Book Award.
Is this the true first?
The US Harper & Brothers edition is the true first; the UK Gollancz edition follows. Identify Harper firsts by the alphabetical month/year code on the copyright page rather than by a number line. The first printing is B-G; an early reprint within 1957 shows G-G.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
The book-club issue lacks the correct Harper B-G code, typically shows a blind-stamped dot or square on the rear board, and its jacket lacks the printed price.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Wapshot Chronicle a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First printing carries the Harper two-letter code on the copyright page reading B-G, which denotes February 1957 (first letter = month, second letter = year, with G = 1957), and shows no statement of a later printing. Issued in green cloth boards backed in dark blue cloth, 307 numbered pages. Cheever's first novel; won the 1958 National Book Award.
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. The US Harper & Brothers edition is the true first; the UK Gollancz edition follows. Identify Harper firsts by the alphabetical month/year code on the copyright page rather than by a number line. The first printing is B-G; an early reprint within 1957 shows G-G.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
The book-club issue lacks the correct Harper B-G code, typically shows a blind-stamped dot or square on the rear board, and its jacket lacks the printed price.
I have a first edition of The Wapshot Chronicle — 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.