The difference between two "first editions"?

ConversazioniLibrarians who LibraryThing

Iscriviti a LibraryThing per pubblicare un messaggio.

The difference between two "first editions"?

Questa conversazione è attualmente segnalata come "addormentata"—l'ultimo messaggio è più vecchio di 90 giorni. Puoi rianimarla postando una risposta.

1artgirl64
Modificato: Gen 16, 2018, 7:46 pm

Hello--I've had a 1955 copy of Herman Wouk's novel, "Marjorie Morningstar," for years. The copyright page doesn't talk about editions; just the publication date and that it was printed by Haddon Craftsmen in Scranton, Pa. Also, the Library of Congress catalog number.

Today I was at the Salvation Army and found another 1955 copy. This one has fewer pages, the margins and gutters are more narrow, and it has no catalog number. Font size is definitely smaller.

Can anyone tell me if these are both "first editions," and if so, why does only one have the LOC number? Is one worth more than the other on the market? (From what I can see, there's no scarcity of these. I know it was an immensely popular novel).

Thanks!

2Keeline
Gen 18, 2018, 9:18 pm

It seems possible that one is a book club edition and the other a trade edition. Do these copies have dust jackets?

James

3randirousseau
Mag 17, 2018, 3:55 pm

Another thought is that the first edition was reprinted the same year. So, one is a first edition, the other the reprint. The book club vs. trade editions is another good possibility.

Randi

4librorumamans
Mag 18, 2018, 11:38 am

Could one be a pre-pub review copy?

5Lyndatrue
Modificato: Mag 18, 2018, 12:22 pm

Well, here's the Wikipedia page for the book (and film), with a nice copy of the dust jacket for the first edition.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marjorie_Morningstar_%28novel%29

You know he's (Wouk) still around (and at 102, he seems to still be alert, and intelligent, which is a gift we should all hope for).

I suspect that neither copy you have is a first edition, but I'd lean towards the one you've had long term as being more likely. Then again, you never know.