The points of issue
Dial Press first printing with no statement of a later printing on the copyright page (Copyright 1949, Dial Press, New York). Grey cloth, octavo, 242 pages. First-issue dust jacket carries the publisher's price on the front flap. Foote's first novel; characters who recur in his later fiction appear here first.
Is this the true first?
US first (The Dial Press) is the true first. Later editions, including the 1987 reissue, are reset; UK appearances follow the American first.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No significant book club issue noted; later reprints carry printing or reset-text notations.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Tournament a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Dial Press first printing with no statement of a later printing on the copyright page (Copyright 1949, Dial Press, New York). Grey cloth, octavo, 242 pages. First-issue dust jacket carries the publisher's price on the front flap. Foote's first novel; characters who recur in his later fiction appear here first.
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 (The Dial Press) is the true first. Later editions, including the 1987 reissue, are reset; UK appearances follow the American first.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
No significant book club issue noted; later reprints carry printing or reset-text notations.
I have a first edition of Tournament — 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.