The points of issue
Copyright page carries 'FIRST EDITION' together with the Harper letter-pair date code, which on confirmed first printings reads 'L-N'. In the Harper code the second letter denotes the year (N = 1964) and the first letter the month, so the first printing shows L-N, not the January 'A-N' form. First-issue jacket carries the printed price on the front flap.
Is this the true first?
US Harper & Row is the true first, preceding the UK Gollancz edition of 1964.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Book-club issue lacks the 'FIRST EDITION' / Harper code, is typically blind-stamped on the rear board, and comes in an unpriced jacket.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Wapshot Scandal a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Copyright page carries 'FIRST EDITION' together with the Harper letter-pair date code, which on confirmed first printings reads 'L-N'. In the Harper code the second letter denotes the year (N = 1964) and the first letter the month, so the first printing shows L-N, not the January 'A-N' form. First-issue jacket carries the printed price on the front flap.
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 Harper & Row is the true first, preceding the UK Gollancz edition of 1964.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Book-club issue lacks the 'FIRST EDITION' / Harper code, is typically blind-stamped on the rear board, and comes in an unpriced jacket.
I have a first edition of The Wapshot Scandal — 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.