# Is "True Grit" by Charles Portis a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of True Grit by Charles Portis (Simon & Schuster, 1968) is identified by: First printing is STATED: the copyright page carries the 1968 copyright and the words "First printing" (Simon & Schuster used a stated-first-printing convention in this period — there is no number line). US Simon & Schuster (1968) is the true first, identified by "First printing" on the copyright page.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- First printing is STATED: the copyright page carries the 1968 copyright and the words "First printing" (Simon & Schuster used a stated-first-printing convention in this period — there is no number line)
- A copy WITHOUT the "First printing" line is a later printing or a book-club copy, not the trade first
- Bound in blue-gray cloth, spine stamped in red and gilt, top edge stained yellow, mustard-yellow endpapers
- First-issue dust jacket designed by Paul Davis, its price printed at the front flap (price present / unclipped)
- Publisher imprint reads Simon & Schuster
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | Charles Portis |
| Publisher | Simon & Schuster |
| Year | 1968 |
| True first | US edition |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | First printing is STATED: the copyright page carries the 1968 copyright and the words "First printing" (Simon & Schuster used a… |
| Book-club edition exists? | Yes |

## Points of issue
First printing is STATED: the copyright page carries the 1968 copyright and the words "First printing" (Simon & Schuster used a stated-first-printing convention in this period — there is no number line). A copy WITHOUT the "First printing" line is a later printing or a book-club copy, not the trade first. Bound in blue-gray cloth, spine stamped in red and gilt, top edge stained yellow, mustard-yellow endpapers; 215 pp. First-issue dust jacket designed by Paul Davis, its price printed at the front flap (price present / unclipped).

## Is this the true first?
US Simon & Schuster (1968) is the true first, identified by "First printing" on the copyright page. Uncorrected advance reading copies / proofs in wrappers preceded the trade edition. The UK Jonathan Cape edition followed in 1969 (a separate British proof also exists); the US trade first precedes the UK edition. Signed Portis copies are scarce.

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
The Book Club Edition is the prime confusion. It is distinguished by: (1) NO "First printing" statement on the copyright page; (2) a small blind-stamp (dot/square) impressed on the lower rear board near the spine; (3) a dust jacket issued WITHOUT a printed price at the flap (book-club jackets were printed unpriced — not the same as a price-clipped trade jacket); and often smaller, thinner boards and paper. BCE copies are common; the target is the stated-"First printing" trade copy in the priced Paul Davis jacket.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *True Grit* by Charles Portis a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/true-grit
CC BY 4.0. Part of the Canonical First-Edition Points of Issue dataset (https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/api/first-edition-titles.json). Last reviewed 2026-07-04.