The points of issue
First printing of the oversized illustrated hardcover (roughly 12 by 9.25 inches), 272 pages, blue cloth, with wartime art by Mauldin, Baker, Brodie and others assembled by Art Weithas. Jones supplied the text.
Is this the true first?
The true first is the Grosset & Dunlap hardcover of 1975. The Ballantine illustrated paperback is a separate later issue (1976), so it should not be presented as co-publisher of the first.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
The Ballantine paperback of 1976 is 'first edition thus' and distinct from the Grosset & Dunlap hardcover first.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of WWII a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First printing of the oversized illustrated hardcover (roughly 12 by 9.25 inches), 272 pages, blue cloth, with wartime art by Mauldin, Baker, Brodie and others assembled by Art Weithas. Jones supplied the text.
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 true first is the Grosset & Dunlap hardcover of 1975. The Ballantine illustrated paperback is a separate later issue (1976), so it should not be presented as co-publisher of the first.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
The Ballantine paperback of 1976 is 'first edition thus' and distinct from the Grosset & Dunlap hardcover first.
I have a first edition of WWII — 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.