The points of issue
Cloth-backed boards; 'First Edition' stated on the copyright page with the Borzoi colophon. The dust jacket is priced. Distinguish from book-club issues, which are unpriced and lack the stated first-edition line.
Is this the true first?
Alfred A. Knopf (New York), a Borzoi book, issued the true first in 1990. Won the Pulitzer Prize for History and the Bancroft Prize in 1991.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Knopf trade first carries 'First Edition' with the Borzoi device; book-club copies differ.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of A Midwife's Tale: The Life of Martha Ballard, Based on Her Diary, 1785-1812 a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Cloth-backed boards; 'First Edition' stated on the copyright page with the Borzoi colophon. The dust jacket is priced. Distinguish from book-club issues, which are unpriced and lack the stated first-edition line.
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. Alfred A. Knopf (New York), a Borzoi book, issued the true first in 1990. Won the Pulitzer Prize for History and the Bancroft Prize in 1991.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Knopf trade first carries 'First Edition' with the Borzoi device; book-club copies differ.
I have a first edition of A Midwife's Tale: The Life of Martha Ballard, Based on Her Diary, 1785-1812 — 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.