The points of issue
HarperCollins first edition, first printing, with the number line ending in 1 on the copyright page and the HarperCollins imprint. Confirm the original jacket price is present and unclipped.
Is this the true first?
The US HarperCollins hardcover of 1997 is the true first.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Book-club copies omit the number line and the printed jacket price.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Already Dead: A California Gothic a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: HarperCollins first edition, first printing, with the number line ending in 1 on the copyright page and the HarperCollins imprint. Confirm the original jacket price is present and unclipped.
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. The US HarperCollins hardcover of 1997 is the true first.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Book-club copies omit the number line and the printed jacket price.
I have a first edition of Already Dead: A California Gothic — 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.