The points of issue
First edition so stated on the copyright page with the full number line, in the priced dust jacket. Bound in quarter cloth over paper-covered boards.
Is this the true first?
True first is the 1971 Harcourt Brace Jovanovich edition. UK edition: Bodley Head, 1972.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Book club edition is blind-stamped and lacks the printed jacket price.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Being There a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First edition so stated on the copyright page with the full number line, in the priced dust jacket. Bound in quarter cloth over paper-covered boards.
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. True first is the 1971 Harcourt Brace Jovanovich edition. UK edition: Bodley Head, 1972.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Book club edition is blind-stamped and lacks the printed jacket price.
I have a first edition of Being There — 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.