The points of issue
First edition so stated on the copyright page with a full number line descending to 1; publisher's cream boards backed with bronze cloth, gilt spine lettering, in dust jacket with original price; 149 pp; ISBN 0375401334. Published 1998.
Is this the true first?
US Knopf is the true first. Signed and inscribed copies are sought. A Vintage Contemporaries paperback followed as a later issue.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
The Vintage Contemporaries paperback, or any copy lacking the 'First Edition' statement or with a number line not reaching 1, is a reprint.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Autobiography of Red: A Novel in Verse a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First edition so stated on the copyright page with a full number line descending to 1; publisher's cream boards backed with bronze cloth, gilt spine lettering, in dust jacket with original price; 149 pp; ISBN 0375401334. Published 1998.
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 Knopf is the true first. Signed and inscribed copies are sought. A Vintage Contemporaries paperback followed as a later issue.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
The Vintage Contemporaries paperback, or any copy lacking the 'First Edition' statement or with a number line not reaching 1, is a reprint.
I have a first edition of Autobiography of Red: A Novel in Verse — 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.