The points of issue
"First Edition" stated with a number line; three linked autobiographical tales.
Is this the true first?
US first (Random House). A UK edition (Jonathan Cape) also appeared in 1993; the US Random House issue is the recognized true first.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Later printings advance the number line.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of A Tidewater Morning: Three Tales from Youth a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: "First Edition" stated with a number line; three linked autobiographical tales.
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 first (Random House). A UK edition (Jonathan Cape) also appeared in 1993; the US Random House issue is the recognized true first.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Later printings advance the number line.
I have a first edition of A Tidewater Morning: Three Tales from Youth — 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.