The points of issue
First printing has the statement 'First Published in 1961 by The Viking Press, Inc.' on the copyright page with no later-printing notice. Bound in blue cloth with titling in black on silver panels, and the top edge tinted pale blue. Dust jacket illustrated by Elmer Hader and carrying the printed price.
Is this the true first?
True US first; precedes the UK Heinemann edition of 1961.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Book club issue can be told apart by a small blindstamped identifier on the lower rear board near the spine and a clipped or unpriced jacket; it lacks the trade first-printing presentation.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Winter of Our Discontent a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First printing has the statement 'First Published in 1961 by The Viking Press, Inc.' on the copyright page with no later-printing notice. Bound in blue cloth with titling in black on silver panels, and the top edge tinted pale blue. Dust jacket illustrated by Elmer Hader and carrying the printed price.
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 Heinemann edition of 1961.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Book club issue can be told apart by a small blindstamped identifier on the lower rear board near the spine and a clipped or unpriced jacket; it lacks the trade first-printing presentation.
I have a first edition of The Winter of Our Discontent — 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.