The points of issue
Full number line present on the copyright page, the complete line ending in 1, under the Scribner imprint. Dust jacket carries the printed price on the front flap. Octavo with illustrations and maps. Winner of the 1986 National Book Award.
Is this the true first?
The US Scribner 1986 edition is the true first; the UK edition followed. The complete, intact number line ending in 1 is the key point of the first printing.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Book-club editions omit the full number line, are printed on lighter bulk, often carry a blind-stamped rear board, and bear an unpriced jacket. The intact number line and the priced jacket distinguish the trade first.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Arctic Dreams: Imagination and Desire in a Northern Landscape a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Full number line present on the copyright page, the complete line ending in 1, under the Scribner imprint. Dust jacket carries the printed price on the front flap. Octavo with illustrations and maps. Winner of the 1986 National Book Award.
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 Scribner 1986 edition is the true first; the UK edition followed. The complete, intact number line ending in 1 is the key point of the first printing.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Book-club editions omit the full number line, are printed on lighter bulk, often carry a blind-stamped rear board, and bear an unpriced jacket. The intact number line and the priced jacket distinguish the trade first.
I have a first edition of Arctic Dreams: Imagination and Desire in a Northern Landscape — 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.