The points of issue
First printing, 370 pages. Identify by the copyright-page printing statement with no later-printing line.
Is this the true first?
US Random House (1960) is the true first; Jonathan Cape issued the first UK edition the same year.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
A book club edition exists and lacks the stated first-printing wording; check the copyright page and for a club board indent.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Two Weeks in Another Town a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First printing, 370 pages. Identify by the copyright-page printing statement with no later-printing line.
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 (1960) is the true first; Jonathan Cape issued the first UK edition the same year.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
A book club edition exists and lacks the stated first-printing wording; check the copyright page and for a club board indent.
I have a first edition of Two Weeks in Another Town — 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.