The points of issue
Book-length essay on Antigua. Farrar, Straus and Giroux, New York, 1988. The true first has the stated 'First printing' on the copyright page; jacket design by Cynthia Krupat, with the original price-intact dust jacket.
Is this the true first?
US FSG 1988 is the true first.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
A book-club edition is a separate printing lacking the stated first-printing line, with no price on the jacket.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of A Small Place a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Book-length essay on Antigua. Farrar, Straus and Giroux, New York, 1988. The true first has the stated 'First printing' on the copyright page; jacket design by Cynthia Krupat, with the original price-intact dust jacket.
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. US FSG 1988 is the true first.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
A book-club edition is a separate printing lacking the stated first-printing line, with no price on the jacket.
I have a first edition of A Small Place — 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.