# Is "Youngblood Hawke" by Herman Wouk a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of Youngblood Hawke by Herman Wouk (Doubleday & Company, 1962) is identified by: The words 'First Edition' are stated on the copyright page with no mention of later printings. US Doubleday is the true first, 1962; a UK Collins edition also appeared in 1962 as a separate setting.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- The words 'First Edition' are stated on the copyright page with no mention of later printings
- As a further confirmation, Doubleday firsts of this era carry a gutter code (a letter-plus-number printing code) at the foot of the last page of text, the letter indicating the year of printing
- The trade first is a thick octavo bound in cloth with gilt spine lettering, in a priced (unclipped) dust jacket whose spine shows orange, tan, and black with black and white lettering; the trade first lacks a rear-board blind-stamp
- The printed flap price should be present and confirms only that the jacket is unclipped, never a valuation
- Publisher imprint reads Doubleday & Company
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | Herman Wouk |
| Publisher | Doubleday & Company |
| Year | 1962 |
| True first | US edition |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | The words 'First Edition' are stated on the copyright page with no mention of later printings |
| Book-club edition exists? | Yes |

## Points of issue
The words 'First Edition' are stated on the copyright page with no mention of later printings. As a further confirmation, Doubleday firsts of this era carry a gutter code (a letter-plus-number printing code) at the foot of the last page of text, the letter indicating the year of printing. The trade first is a thick octavo bound in cloth with gilt spine lettering, in a priced (unclipped) dust jacket whose spine shows orange, tan, and black with black and white lettering; the trade first lacks a rear-board blind-stamp. The printed flap price should be present and confirms only that the jacket is unclipped, never a valuation.

## Is this the true first?
US Doubleday is the true first, 1962; a UK Collins edition also appeared in 1962 as a separate setting.

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Book club editions carry a blind-stamp (small dot or square) to the lower rear board; note that some book-club copies also print 'First Edition,' so confirm the absence of the rear-board blind-stamp, and where present the Doubleday gutter code, to identify the trade first.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *Youngblood Hawke* by Herman Wouk a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/youngblood-hawke
CC BY 4.0. Part of the Canonical First-Edition Points of Issue dataset (https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/api/first-edition-titles.json). Last reviewed 2026-07-04.