The points of issue
Harper & Row, 1987. The trade first edition is identified by 'FIRST EDITION' stated on the copyright page, with the printed price present on the dust jacket front flap. Dillard's memoir of her Pittsburgh childhood. A separate signed limited edition of 250 numbered copies also exists.
Is this the true first?
The US Harper & Row 1987 trade first edition; verify the stated 'FIRST EDITION' and the priced jacket. A signed limited issue of 250 copies was also produced.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Book-club copies typically omit the 'FIRST EDITION' statement, are unpriced on the jacket, and may bear a blind stamp on the rear board; the stated first plus the priced jacket marks the trade first.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of An American Childhood a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Harper & Row, 1987. The trade first edition is identified by 'FIRST EDITION' stated on the copyright page, with the printed price present on the dust jacket front flap. Dillard's memoir of her Pittsburgh childhood. A separate signed limited edition of 250 numbered copies also exists.
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 Harper & Row 1987 trade first edition; verify the stated 'FIRST EDITION' and the priced jacket. A signed limited issue of 250 copies was also produced.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Book-club copies typically omit the 'FIRST EDITION' statement, are unpriced on the jacket, and may bear a blind stamp on the rear board; the stated first plus the priced jacket marks the trade first.
I have a first edition of An American Childhood — 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.