The points of issue
First printing published by Atheneum, New York, 1976; blue cloth boards, blind-stamped on the upper board and lettered in silver at the spine, with orange topstain; dust jacket priced on the front flap. One of Crews's best-known novels.
Is this the true first?
The US Atheneum 1976 edition is the true first.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Book-club copies are typically lighter, lack the printed jacket flap price, and show a blind blip or stamp to the rear board. Because the trade first is itself blind-stamped on the upper board, do not rely on blind-stamping alone; confirm the priced jacket and Atheneum's first-printing copyright statement.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of A Feast of Snakes a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First printing published by Atheneum, New York, 1976; blue cloth boards, blind-stamped on the upper board and lettered in silver at the spine, with orange topstain; dust jacket priced on the front flap. One of Crews's best-known novels.
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 Atheneum 1976 edition is the true first.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Book-club copies are typically lighter, lack the printed jacket flap price, and show a blind blip or stamp to the rear board. Because the trade first is itself blind-stamped on the upper board, do not rely on blind-stamping alone; confirm the priced jacket and Atheneum's first-printing copyright statement.
I have a first edition of A Feast of Snakes — 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.