The points of issue
First hardcover states 'First printing' (given as 'First Delacorte printing') on the copyright page; first-issue dust jacket priced 5.95. Collection of twenty-five stories; eleven were drawn from 'Canary in a Cat House.'
Is this the true first?
True first hardcover is the 1968 Delacorte Press / Seymour Lawrence edition. The UK first was published by Jonathan Cape in 1969.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
A book-club edition exists, blind-stamped and with an unpriced jacket.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Welcome to the Monkey House a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First hardcover states 'First printing' (given as 'First Delacorte printing') on the copyright page; first-issue dust jacket priced 5.95. Collection of twenty-five stories; eleven were drawn from 'Canary in a Cat House.'
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. True first hardcover is the 1968 Delacorte Press / Seymour Lawrence edition. The UK first was published by Jonathan Cape in 1969.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
A book-club edition exists, blind-stamped and with an unpriced jacket.
I have a first edition of Welcome to the Monkey House — 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.