The points of issue
Knopf (Borzoi) first edition, ISBN 0-394-57174-6. Copyright page states FIRST EDITION with a number line descending to 1; Borzoi colophon present. Hempel's second book, a story collection (137 pp), typically in orange cloth over black boards with matching jacket. Verify the jacket price is present and unclipped.
Is this the true first?
The US Knopf hardcover (1990) is the true first edition.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Book-club issues lack the FIRST EDITION/number-line statement and the priced jacket.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of At the Gates of the Animal Kingdom a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Knopf (Borzoi) first edition, ISBN 0-394-57174-6. Copyright page states FIRST EDITION with a number line descending to 1; Borzoi colophon present. Hempel's second book, a story collection (137 pp), typically in orange cloth over black boards with matching jacket. 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 (1990) is the true first edition.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Book-club issues lack the FIRST EDITION/number-line statement and the priced jacket.
I have a first edition of At the Gates of the Animal Kingdom — 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.