The points of issue
First printing carries a stated 'First Printing' on the copyright page. Octavo, 689 pages, scarlet and black cloth with gilt lettering. The dust jacket bears a Samuel Sugar design and is priced on the front flap; the first-issue jacket price is unclipped. A small Presentation Edition is reported to precede the trade first. His major WWII novel and a key Shaw collectible.
Is this the true first?
US Random House first; the Jonathan Cape London edition followed in 1949.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
The Book-of-the-Month Club edition has a rear-board blind-stamp and a jacket without printed price; the trade first carries the stated 'First Printing' and an unclipped priced jacket.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Young Lions a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First printing carries a stated 'First Printing' on the copyright page. Octavo, 689 pages, scarlet and black cloth with gilt lettering. The dust jacket bears a Samuel Sugar design and is priced on the front flap; the first-issue jacket price is unclipped. A small Presentation Edition is reported to precede the trade first. His major WWII novel and a key Shaw collectible.
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 Random House first; the Jonathan Cape London edition followed in 1949.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
The Book-of-the-Month Club edition has a rear-board blind-stamp and a jacket without printed price; the trade first carries the stated 'First Printing' and an unclipped priced jacket.
I have a first edition of The Young Lions — 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.