Catch-22
by Heller, Joseph
Catch-22 is Joseph Heller’s first novel and his most acclaimed work. Set during World War II, the novel uses a distinctive non-chronological third-person omniscient narration, mainly focusing on the life of Captain John Yossarian, a U.S. Army Air Forces B-25 bombardier. Occasionally, the narrator also shows us how other characters, such as the chaplain or Hungry Joe, experience the world around them. As the novel’s events are described from the different points of view through separate out-of-sequence storylines, the timeline of Catch-22 develops along with the plot.
The novel's title refers to a plot device that is repeatedly invoked in the story. Catch-22 starts as a set of paradoxical requirements whereby airmen mentally unfit to fly did not have to, but could not actually be excused. By the end of the novel, the phrase is invoked as the explanation for many unreasonable restrictions. “Catch-22” has since entered the English language and can be understood as an unsolvable logic puzzle, a difficult situation from which there is no escape.
Upon publication, the book was not a best seller in the United States. It was merely a cult favorite until the publication of the paperback edition in 1962, which set record sales — most likely benefitting from a national debate about the pointlessness of the Vietnam War. Catch-22 has since been ranked as one of the 100 best English-language novels of the 20th century by the Modern Library, one of the 20th century's top 100 novels by the Radcliffe Publishing Course, and one of the 100 greatest novels of all time by The Observer.
First Edition Identification and Notes
Simon & Schuster first published Catch-22 in June of 1961. The first edition is bound in blue cloth, the top edges of its pages are stained red, and the statement “First Printing” appears on the copyright page. The dust jacket of the first edition has the original $5.95 price on the bottom of the front flap and author's picture on the back panel with no blurbs.
Other Collectible or Notable Editions
Other notable editions include the first UK edition published by Jonathan Cape in 1962 and the 1978 Franklin Library leather-bound and signed limited edition.
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Available copies

CATCH-22
by Heller, Joseph
- Seller
- 19th Century Rare Book and Photograph Shop
- Published
- 1961
- Edition
- 1st Edition
- Item Price
-
£10,656.25
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Catch-22
by Heller, Joseph
- Seller
- Thomas A Goldwasser Rare Books
- Published
- 1961
- Edition
- First edition
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£8,098.75
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Catch-22.
by Heller, Joseph
- Seller
- Raptis Rare Books
- Published
- 1961
- Item Price
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£5,541.25
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Catch-22
by HELLER, Joseph
- Seller
- Rootenberg Rare Books & Manuscripts
- Published
- 1961
- Edition
- FIRST EDITION
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£4,688.75
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Catch-22 (large type edition)
by Joseph Heller
- Seller
- Philosopher's Stone Books
- Condition
- Very Good
- Item Price
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£4,262.50
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Catch 22
by Heller, Joseph
- Seller
- Burnside Rare Books, ABAA
- Published
- 1961
- Condition
- Very Good
- Edition
- First Edition
- Item Price
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£3,836.25
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Catch-22
by HELLER, Joseph
- Seller
- Argosy Book Store
- Published
- 1961
- Condition
- near fine
- Item Price
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£3,836.25
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Catch-22
by Heller, Joseph
- Seller
- Bookbid Rare Books
- Published
- 1961
- Condition
- Very Good
- Edition
- 1st Edition
- Item Price
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£2,557.50
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Catch-22
by HELLER, Joseph
- Seller
- Argosy Book Store
- Published
- 1961
- Condition
- very good(+)
- Edition
- First
- Item Price
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£2,557.50
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CATCH-22
by HELLER, JOSEPH
- Seller
- VAGABOND BOOKS
- Condition
- Near Fine
- Edition
- FIRST
- Item Price
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£2,557.50
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Catch-22 (Uncorrected proof, Agent's copy)
by Heller, Joseph.
- Seller
- Clayton Fine Books
- Published
- 1961
- Condition
- Very Good
- Edition
- First Edition
- Item Price
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£2,131.25
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Joseph Heller's "Catch-22" Very Rare, Pre-Publication Copy
by Heller, Joseph
- Seller
- Max Rambod Inc.
- Item Price
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£2,131.25
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Catch-22
by Joseph Heller
- Seller
- Owl Creek Books
- Published
- 1961
- Condition
- Very Good+
- Edition
- First Edition, Second Printing
- Item Price
-
£2,130.40
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CATCH-22 (Advance Reading Copy)
by Heller, Joseph
- Seller
- Sage Rare & Collectible Books, IOBA
- Published
- 1961
- Condition
- Very Good+
- Edition
- First Edition; First Printing
- Item Price
-
£1,933.49
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Catch-22
by Heller, Joseph
- Seller
- Novel Ideas Books
- Published
- 1961
- Condition
- Very Good in Good dust jacket
- Edition
- First Edition; First Printing
- Item Price
-
£1,918.13
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CATCH-22.
by Heller, Joseph.
- Seller
- Waverley Books
- Published
- 1961
- Condition
- Very Good+ with no dust jacket
- Edition
- First Edition; First Printing
- Item Price
-
£1,705.00
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Catch-22
by Joseph Heller
- Seller
- Jeff Bergman Books ABAA/ILAB
- Published
- 1961
- Condition
- Fine
- Edition
- 1st Edition
- Item Price
-
£1,615.49
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Catch-22
by HELLER, Joseph
- Seller
- Between the Covers- Rare Books, Inc. ABAA
- Published
- 1961
- Condition
- Very Good
- Item Price
-
£1,491.88
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Catch-22
by Heller, Joseph
- Seller
- Jay W. Nelson, Bookseller
- Published
- 1961
- Condition
- Near Fine
- Edition
- 1st Edition
- Item Price
-
£1,444.99
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Catch-22
by Heller, Joseph
- Seller
- Bookbid Rare Books
- Published
- 1961
- Condition
- Near Fine
- Edition
- 2nd Edition
- Item Price
-
£1,278.75
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Catch-22
by Joseph Heller
- Seller
- Capitol Hill Books
- Published
- 1961
- Condition
- Very Good
- Item Price
-
£1,278.75
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Catch-22
by Joseph Heller
- Seller
- Black Dog Books
- Published
- 1961
- Condition
- Very Good + Minor Wear
- Edition
- 1st Edition
- Item Price
-
£1,065.63
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Catch-22
by HELLER, Joseph (1923-1999)
- Seller
- Adrian Harrington Rare Books
- Item Price
-
£795.00
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CATCH-22
by Heller, Joseph
- Seller
- W. C. Baker Rare Books & Ephemera
- Published
- 1961
- Condition
- Good
- Edition
- First Edition
- Item Price
-
£809.88
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Catch-22
by Heller, Joseph
- Seller
- Pellbooks
- Published
- 1961
- Condition
- Near Fine
- Edition
- STATED FIRST PRINTING
- Item Price
-
£809.88
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Catch-22.
by HELLER, Joseph.
- Seller
- Peter Harrington
- Published
- 1962
- Item Price
-
£750.00
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Catch-22
by HELLER JOSEPH
- Seller
- James M Pickard, ABA, ILAB, PBFA.
- Published
- 1962
- Edition
- First Edition
- Item Price
-
£675.00
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Catch-22
by Joseph Heller
- Seller
- Dymphna's Archive
- Condition
- Near Fine
- Item Price
-
£600.00
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Catch-22
by Heller, Joseph
- Seller
- The Chatham Bookseller, LLC
- Published
- 1961
- Condition
- Very Good
- Edition
- First Edition First Printing
- Item Price
-
£639.38
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Catch-22: A Dramatization
by Joseph Heller
- Seller
- Black Dog Books
- Published
- 1973
- Condition
- Very Good +
- Edition
- 1st Edition
- Item Price
-
£639.38
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CATCH - 22.
by Heller, Joseph
- Seller
- Kurt Gippert Bookseller (ABAA)
- Published
- 1962
- Condition
- Very good condition
- Edition
- First Edition
- Item Price
-
£575.44
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Catch-22
by HELLER, Joseph
- Seller
- Michael Treloar Antiquarian Booksellers
- Published
- 1962
- Edition
- First Edition
- Item Price
-
£519.93
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CATCH-22
by HELLER, Joseph
- Seller
- Charles Agvent
- Published
- (1994)
- Condition
- Fine in slipcase without dustwrapper, as issued
- Edition
- Limited Edition
- Item Price
-
£532.81
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![cover of Catch-22 [typed extract SIGNED]](https://d3525k1ryd2155.cloudfront.net/h/515/288/1256288515.0.m.jpg)
Catch-22 [typed extract SIGNED]
by HELLER, Joseph (1923-1999)
- Seller
- Adrian Harrington Rare Books
- Item Price
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£495.00
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Catch 22 - a bright copy
by Heller, Joseph
- Seller
- John Atkinson Books
- Published
- 1962
- Item Price
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£485.00
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Catch-22
by Heller, Joseph
- Seller
- Bookbid Rare Books
- ISBN
- 9783596125722
- Item Price
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£511.50
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Catch 22 (first printng)
by Joseph Heller
- Seller
- OLDPRINTBOOKS
- Published
- 1961
- Condition
- Very Good
- Item Price
-
£511.50
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CATCH-22
by Heller, Joseph
- Seller
- Revere Books, ABAA & IOBA
- Published
- 1994
- Condition
- Fine
- ISBN
- 9780671502331
- Item Price
-
£511.50
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Catch 22 (first printng)
by Joseph Heller
- Seller
- RARE PRINT BOOKS
- Published
- 1961
- Condition
- Very Good
- Item Price
-
£511.50
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Catch-22 - Pirated Edition
by Heller, Joseph
- Seller
- Books Tell You Why, Inc.
- Published
- c1961
- Condition
- Very Good+ in Very Good+ dust jacket
- Edition
- Signed by Author
- Item Price
-
£477.40
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Catch-22
by Joseph Heller
- Seller
- Rooke Books
- Published
- 1962
- Condition
- Fine
- Edition
- First edition
- Item Price
-
£450.00
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Catch-22
by Heller, Joseph
- Seller
- K & L KICKIN' BOOKS
- Published
- 1963
- Condition
- Very Good
- Edition
- 1st Edition Great Britain/ 6th p
- Item Price
-
£426.25
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Catch-22
by Heller, Joseph
- Seller
- The Book House - St. Louis
- Published
- 1961
- Condition
- Very Good
- Edition
- First Edition
- Item Price
-
£421.99
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Catch-22
by Joseph Heller
- Seller
- Grayshelf Books, IOBA, TXBA
- Published
- 1962
- Condition
- Very Good
- Item Price
-
£392.15
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Catch-22 (w/Signed Card)
by HELLER, Joseph
- Seller
- abookshop
- Published
- 1961
- Condition
- Very Good ++
- Edition
- Second Printing
- Item Price
-
£387.89
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Catch-22: A Dramatization
by HELLER, Joseph
- Seller
- Pen ultimate rare books
- Published
- 1973
- Condition
- Fine
- Edition
- First
- Item Price
-
£387.89
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Catch-22
by Heller, Joseph
- Seller
- J. Mercurio Books, Maps, & Prints
- Condition
- Near Fine
- Edition
- 1st Edition
- Item Price
-
£383.63
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CATCH-22
by Heller, Joseph
- Seller
- A. Parker's Books, Inc.
- Published
- 1978
- Condition
- Very good+
- Item Price
-
£383.63
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Catch-22 (SIGNED)
by Heller, Joseph
- Seller
- Russian Hill Bookstore
- Published
- 1978
- Condition
- Collectible - Like New
- Edition
- Limited Edition
- Item Price
-
£362.31
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CATCH 22
by Joseph Heller
- Seller
- SW505BOOKS
- Published
- 1955-1961
- Edition
- 6 1/2 by 8 1/2
- Item Price
-
£341.00