The points of issue
First printing under the William Sloane Associates imprint, New York, 1949, with 'first edition' stated and no later-printing statement on the copyright page. Quarter cloth binding with maps of the Independence-to-Oregon route, in the original priced first-issue dust jacket. Sequel to The Big Sky.
Is this the true first?
The US William Sloane Associates 1949 edition is the true first. The novel won the 1950 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction, so true first-issue jackets predate and do not mention any Pulitzer award.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Book-of-the-Month Club editions omit the Sloane first-issue points, are unpriced on the jacket, and carry a blind stamp on the rear board; the priced first-issue jacket without any Pulitzer notice distinguishes the trade first.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Way West a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First printing under the William Sloane Associates imprint, New York, 1949, with 'first edition' stated and no later-printing statement on the copyright page. Quarter cloth binding with maps of the Independence-to-Oregon route, in the original priced first-issue dust jacket. Sequel to The Big Sky.
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 William Sloane Associates 1949 edition is the true first. The novel won the 1950 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction, so true first-issue jackets predate and do not mention any Pulitzer award.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Book-of-the-Month Club editions omit the Sloane first-issue points, are unpriced on the jacket, and carry a blind stamp on the rear board; the priced first-issue jacket without any Pulitzer notice distinguishes the trade first.
I have a first edition of The Way West — 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.