The points of issue
First trade edition states 'FIRST EDITION' on the copyright page. Binding: beige (tan) cloth, with titling and rule stamped in green and gilt on spine and front panel, and a green top stain. Issued in a first-issue dust jacket with the printed price. A separate signed limited edition of 250 copies was also issued.
Is this the true first?
True US first; precedes the UK Chatto & Windus edition of 1939. The novel was later reissued under the title If I Forget Thee, Jerusalem.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No book club edition. Reprints drop the 'FIRST EDITION' statement from the copyright page.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Wild Palms a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First trade edition states 'FIRST EDITION' on the copyright page. Binding: beige (tan) cloth, with titling and rule stamped in green and gilt on spine and front panel, and a green top stain. Issued in a first-issue dust jacket with the printed price. A separate signed limited edition of 250 copies was also issued.
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. True US first; precedes the UK Chatto & Windus edition of 1939. The novel was later reissued under the title If I Forget Thee, Jerusalem.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
No book club edition. Reprints drop the 'FIRST EDITION' statement from the copyright page.
I have a first edition of The Wild Palms — 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.