The points of issue
Knopf (Borzoi) first edition, ISBN 0-394-53225-7. Copyright page states FIRST EDITION with a number line descending to 1; Borzoi colophon. Johnson's debut novel, in quarter black cloth over black paper boards. Verify the jacket price is present and unclipped.
Is this the true first?
The US Knopf hardcover (1983) is the true first edition. Johnson's poetry collections predate it as his earliest books (The Man Among the Seals, 1969; Inner Weather, 1976), but Angels is his first novel.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Book-club editions lack the FIRST EDITION/number-line statement and the priced jacket.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Angels a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Knopf (Borzoi) first edition, ISBN 0-394-53225-7. Copyright page states FIRST EDITION with a number line descending to 1; Borzoi colophon. Johnson's debut novel, in quarter black cloth over black paper boards. Verify the 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 Knopf hardcover (1983) is the true first edition. Johnson's poetry collections predate it as his earliest books (The Man Among the Seals, 1969; Inner Weather, 1976), but Angels is his first novel.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Book-club editions lack the FIRST EDITION/number-line statement and the priced jacket.
I have a first edition of Angels — 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.