3 Charles Portis first editions are documented on this shelf, from Norwood (1966) to The Dog of the South (1979) across 3 different publishers. Each linked guide gives the points of issue that separate a true first printing of that Charles Portis title from later printings and book-club copies — the publisher and year to expect, the number-line or edition-statement conventions, and the tells that show up in online listings.
Identification only, per the house rule: no prices and no appraisals here. Checking a Charles Portis copy in hand? Type the title into the First-Edition Checker or photograph the copyright page with Snap & Sort.
- Norwood — 1966 · Simon and SchusterThe first printing is identified by "First Printing" stated on the copyright page, with no later-printing designations present; this is the single controlling point and is confirmed by multiple ABAA dealers (Johnson Rare Books, Bauman Rare Books, Lost City Bookstore). Bound in blue cloth with the spine and borders stamped in black, tan, and white and the top edge stained, and issued in a priced pictorial dust…. The US Simon and Schuster edition (New York, 1966) is the true first and the priority edition, preceding the first UK edition (Jonathan Cape, London, 1967) by a year. Both regional firsts are collected, but the 1966 Simon and Schuster is the true first. No US book-club issue is documented for Norwood; later Simon and Schuster printings are distinguished by added printing statements on the copyright page rather than the "First Printing" line.
- True Grit — 1968 · Simon & SchusterFirst printing is STATED: the copyright page carries the 1968 copyright and the words "First printing" (Simon & Schuster used a stated-first-printing convention in this period — there is no number line). A copy WITHOUT the "First printing" line is a later printing or a book-club copy, not the trade first. Bound in blue-gray cloth, spine stamped in red and gilt, top edge stained yellow, mustard-yellow endpapers;…. US Simon & Schuster (1968) is the true first, identified by "First printing" on the copyright page. Uncorrected advance reading copies / proofs in wrappers preceded the trade edition. The UK Jonathan Cape edition followed in 1969 (a separate British proof also exists); the US trade first precedes the UK edition. Signed Portis copies are scarce. The Book Club Edition is the prime confusion. It is distinguished by: (1) NO "First printing" statement on the copyright page; (2) a small blind-stamp (dot/square) impressed on the lower rear board near the spine; (3) a dust jacket issued WITHOUT a printed price at the flap (book-club jackets were printed unpriced — not the same as a price-clipped trade jacket); and often smaller, thinner boards and paper. BCE….
- The Dog of the South — 1979 · Alfred A. KnopfTrue first published by Alfred A. Knopf, New York, 1979, with 'First Edition' stated on the copyright page — Knopf's consistent first-printing practice, with no number line and no later-printing statement. Bound in two-tone quarter cloth: a pale (cream/ivory) cloth spine over green paper-covered boards, the spine/front lettered in metallic green (a minority of dealer descriptions call the lettering blue). Dust…. US Knopf 1979 is the true first; no contemporaneous UK edition was published, so there is no British-precedence question. Portis's third novel — the census note (US-only for this title) is correct. No separate book-club edition documented for the first printing. Distinguish the stated 'First Edition' first printing from later Knopf printings that add a printing statement, and from the 1999 Overlook and subsequent reprints.
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