The points of issue
Harper & Row first printing: 'First Edition' stated with a full number line including 1 on the copyright page; original price present on the jacket flap; blue boards with maroon (dark) cloth spine and silver spine lettering. Basis for the 1997 film.
Is this the true first?
US Harper & Row, New York, 1989 is the true first. The 1989 date is correct and the earlier uncertainty about 1990 is resolved.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Book-club copies lack the original flap price, may carry a blind-stamp to the board, and do not show the complete number line ending in 1.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Affliction a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Harper & Row first printing: 'First Edition' stated with a full number line including 1 on the copyright page; original price present on the jacket flap; blue boards with maroon (dark) cloth spine and silver spine lettering. Basis for the 1997 film.
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 Harper & Row, New York, 1989 is the true first. The 1989 date is correct and the earlier uncertainty about 1990 is resolved.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Book-club copies lack the original flap price, may carry a blind-stamp to the board, and do not show the complete number line ending in 1.
I have a first edition of Affliction — 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.