The points of issue
First edition, first printing, published by The Vanguard Press, New York, 1939; a short antifascist novel of ninety-one pages in original tan cloth.
Is this the true first?
US first edition (Vanguard Press, 1939). This is the true first.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Later printings carry printing statements not present on the first.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Tommy Gallagher's Crusade a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First edition, first printing, published by The Vanguard Press, New York, 1939; a short antifascist novel of ninety-one pages in original tan cloth.
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 (Vanguard Press, 1939). This is the true first.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Later printings carry printing statements not present on the first.
I have a first edition of Tommy Gallagher's Crusade — 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.