The points of issue
True first issued by Viking in 2002 (published October 2002), a thin hardcover with an afterword by Joseph Tabbi. Identify by the first-printing number line terminating in 1 on the copyright page and a first-issue dust jacket bearing the original price on the front flap.
Is this the true first?
Viking 2002 hardcover is the true first edition. Published posthumously (Gaddis died in 1998).
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
None notable.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Agapē Agape a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: True first issued by Viking in 2002 (published October 2002), a thin hardcover with an afterword by Joseph Tabbi. Identify by the first-printing number line terminating in 1 on the copyright page and a first-issue dust jacket bearing the original 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. Viking 2002 hardcover is the true first edition. Published posthumously (Gaddis died in 1998).
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
None notable.
I have a first edition of Agapē Agape — 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.