The points of issue
For Putnam in this era (1960 to 1988) the first printing carries NO printing statement on the copyright page; later printings add 'second (third, etc.) impression.' There is no number line on a 1980 Putnam first (Putnam number lines began only around 1989). First-issue jacket priced on the front flap, with the Putnam imprint on the title page and spine.
Is this the true first?
The US G. P. Putnam's Sons edition is the true first.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No significant book-club edition is documented for this title; identify the trade first by the absence of any later-impression statement rather than by a club blind-stamp.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Black Mountain Breakdown a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: For Putnam in this era (1960 to 1988) the first printing carries NO printing statement on the copyright page; later printings add 'second (third, etc.) impression.' There is no number line on a 1980 Putnam first (Putnam number lines began only around 1989). First-issue jacket priced on the front flap, with the Putnam imprint on the title page and spine.
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 G. P. Putnam's Sons edition is the true first.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
No significant book-club edition is documented for this title; identify the trade first by the absence of any later-impression statement rather than by a club blind-stamp.
I have a first edition of Black Mountain Breakdown — 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.