The points of issue
Copyright page states 'First printing, 1976.' Price-intact dust jacket on the true first. Collection of short stories, many first appearing in The New Yorker.
Is this the true first?
True first is the 1976 FSG hardcover.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No notable book-club issue; later printings add subsequent printing statements.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Amateurs a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Copyright page states 'First printing, 1976.' Price-intact dust jacket on the true first. Collection of short stories, many first appearing in The New Yorker.
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. True first is the 1976 FSG hardcover.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
No notable book-club issue; later printings add subsequent printing statements.
I have a first edition of Amateurs — 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.