Customer Reviews

First Printings of American Authors: Contributions Toward Descriptive Checklists

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(Note: This is a review of the full FIVE volume set, the four volume set is not nearly as good.)

The FPAA as it is known in the book world is an outstanding reference for modern literature collectors and dealers. It suffers from the same problem as all printed bibliographies - aging, but really is perfect for what it is. The volumes are arranged alphabetically and voulmes 4 and 5 have cumulative indexes. The author's works are then arranged chronologically with a guide to what the copyright page says for a true first. In addition, there is often a handy reproduction of what the title page looks like.

This was originally a four volume set and a few years later, Gale publishing added a fifth volume and redid the index. This fifth volume has some important authors (William S. Burroughs, Zane Grey, Nabokov, Upton Sinclair) so I strongly encourage those considering purchase to obtain a full set. I have more than made my money back on this set as a bookdealer due to improved knowledge (hint: there is no Scribner "A" of firsts before 1928).