The points of issue
Stated First Printing on the copyright page; 322 pages. Novel expanding Schulberg's On the Waterfront screenplay.
Is this the true first?
US Random House first precedes the UK first (The Bodley Head, 1956).
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Book club edition exists, identifiable by a blind-stamp on the rear board and the absence of the First Printing statement.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Waterfront a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Stated First Printing on the copyright page; 322 pages. Novel expanding Schulberg's On the Waterfront screenplay.
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 first precedes the UK first (The Bodley Head, 1956).
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Book club edition exists, identifiable by a blind-stamp on the rear board and the absence of the First Printing statement.
I have a first edition of Waterfront — 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.