The points of issue
First edition published by The World Publishing Company in 1958, illustrated by Johannes Troyer. A standalone story set in Spain.
Is this the true first?
US first edition, World Publishing, Cleveland and New York, 1958.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Later printings and reprints follow the 1958 first.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Work of Saint Francis a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First edition published by The World Publishing Company in 1958, illustrated by Johannes Troyer. A standalone story set in Spain.
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 first edition, World Publishing, Cleveland and New York, 1958.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Later printings and reprints follow the 1958 first.
I have a first edition of The Work of Saint Francis — 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.