The points of issue
First printing has a full number line descending to 1 on the copyright page and no later-printing statement. Issued in beige boards with a blue cloth spine, blue topstain and orange endpapers; the first-state jacket carries its printed price. Carver's first major story collection.
Is this the true first?
The US McGraw-Hill edition is the true first; the UK edition follows. This collection precedes Cathedral and is Carver's breakout book.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No book-club edition of note; later reprints are Vintage Contemporaries paperbacks with a different design and ISBN.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Will You Please Be Quiet, Please? a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First printing has a full number line descending to 1 on the copyright page and no later-printing statement. Issued in beige boards with a blue cloth spine, blue topstain and orange endpapers; the first-state jacket carries its printed price. Carver's first major story collection.
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 McGraw-Hill edition is the true first; the UK edition follows. This collection precedes Cathedral and is Carver's breakout book.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
No book-club edition of note; later reprints are Vintage Contemporaries paperbacks with a different design and ISBN.
I have a first edition of Will You Please Be Quiet, Please? — 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.