The points of issue
White cloth over mauve paper-covered boards, spine stamped in silver, with mauve endpapers and the original illustrated dust jacket. The first trade printing shows the complete number line ending in 1 on the copyright page.
Is this the true first?
The US E. P. Dutton 1980 trade printing, with full number line, is the true first trade edition. A separate signed limited issue (Franklin Library) also exists and should not be conflated with the trade first.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
A book-club edition lacks the number line, is generally smaller and lighter, and shows a blind-stamped rear board.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Bellefleur a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: White cloth over mauve paper-covered boards, spine stamped in silver, with mauve endpapers and the original illustrated dust jacket. The first trade printing shows the complete number line ending in 1 on the copyright page.
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 E. P. Dutton 1980 trade printing, with full number line, is the true first trade edition. A separate signed limited issue (Franklin Library) also exists and should not be conflated with the trade first.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
A book-club edition lacks the number line, is generally smaller and lighter, and shows a blind-stamped rear board.
I have a first edition of Bellefleur — 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.