The points of issue
First printing carries the full number line 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 on the copyright page, ending in 1. Dutton imprint on the title and copyright pages; jacket carries the printed price on the front flap.
Is this the true first?
US Dutton 1979 first edition, first printing. A collection of Abbey's travel and nature essays. The US issue is the true first.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Identified by the intact number line ending in 1. Later printings end in a higher number (for example a third printing ends in 3), so an incomplete line indicates a reprint.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Abbey's Road a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First printing carries the full number line 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 on the copyright page, ending in 1. Dutton imprint on the title and copyright pages; jacket carries the printed price on the front flap.
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 Dutton 1979 first edition, first printing. A collection of Abbey's travel and nature essays. The US issue is the true first.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Identified by the intact number line ending in 1. Later printings end in a higher number (for example a third printing ends in 3), so an incomplete line indicates a reprint.
I have a first edition of Abbey's Road — 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.