The points of issue
First edition stated on the copyright page with the full number line present; Little, Brown imprint; dust jacket priced on the front flap. Some copies show a first-state jacket bearing praise for the author's previous work.
Is this the true first?
The US Little, Brown hardcover of 1984 is the true first; it won the fiction award presented in 1984 (then administered under the American Book Awards name).
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
If a book-club issue exists it will be smaller with a blind-stamped board and an unpriced jacket; treat any unpriced, blind-stamped copy with caution. Also beware later printings with an altered number line.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Victory Over Japan: A Book of Stories a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First edition stated on the copyright page with the full number line present; Little, Brown imprint; dust jacket priced on the front flap. Some copies show a first-state jacket bearing praise for the author's previous work.
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. The US Little, Brown hardcover of 1984 is the true first; it won the fiction award presented in 1984 (then administered under the American Book Awards name).
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
If a book-club issue exists it will be smaller with a blind-stamped board and an unpriced jacket; treat any unpriced, blind-stamped copy with caution. Also beware later printings with an altered number line.
I have a first edition of Victory Over Japan: A Book of Stories — 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.