The points of issue
US Charles Scribner's Sons first, 1988, with 'First Edition' on the copyright page and a number line. The third Inspector Porfiry Rostnikov novel; it won the Edgar Award for Best Novel in 1989 for the 1988 publication.
Is this the true first?
The US Scribner's 1988 hardcover is the true first.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
A number line not ending in 1, or absence of the 'First Edition' statement, indicates a later printing.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of A Cold Red Sunrise a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: US Charles Scribner's Sons first, 1988, with 'First Edition' on the copyright page and a number line. The third Inspector Porfiry Rostnikov novel; it won the Edgar Award for Best Novel in 1989 for the 1988 publication.
How do I tell the first printing from a later one?
Check the copyright page for the publisher's first-printing convention and confirm the points above. The US Scribner's 1988 hardcover is the true first.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
A number line not ending in 1, or absence of the 'First Edition' statement, indicates a later printing.
I have a first edition of A Cold Red Sunrise — what should I do?
If you're clearing books, New Mexico Literacy Project offers free pickup in Albuquerque, any condition, and makes sure collectible copies aren't lost. To sell, see the author's collecting guide. Either way, nothing valuable ends up in a landfill.