The points of issue
Published under the pseudonym "Cleo Birdwell." The first printing is the collectible state; Holt went back for a second printing, so first-printing copies should be confirmed against the copyright page rather than assumed. DeLillo has never authorized a reissue, making the original hardcover the definitive edition.
Is this the true first?
US Holt, Rinehart and Winston is the true first. DeLillo's authorship was deliberately concealed and remains officially unacknowledged; no later authorized reissue exists. The book was written with assistance from Sue Buck.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No book club edition noted; scarcity comes from the suppressed first printing and lack of any reissue.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Amazons (as Cleo Birdwell, pseudonymous) a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Published under the pseudonym "Cleo Birdwell." The first printing is the collectible state; Holt went back for a second printing, so first-printing copies should be confirmed against the copyright page rather than assumed. DeLillo has never authorized a reissue, making the original hardcover the definitive edition.
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 Holt, Rinehart and Winston is the true first. DeLillo's authorship was deliberately concealed and remains officially unacknowledged; no later authorized reissue exists. The book was written with assistance from Sue Buck.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
No book club edition noted; scarcity comes from the suppressed first printing and lack of any reissue.
I have a first edition of Amazons (as Cleo Birdwell, pseudonymous) — 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.