The points of issue
First printing carries the publisher's first-edition statement with a number line on the copyright page; priced dust jacket.
Is this the true first?
True first is the 1977 Houghton Mifflin (Boston) edition.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
A Book Club Edition exists; identify it by the absence of the number line, the blind-stamped mark on the rear board, and no price on the jacket flap.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Blind Date a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First printing carries the publisher's first-edition statement with a number line on the copyright page; priced dust jacket.
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 1977 Houghton Mifflin (Boston) edition.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
A Book Club Edition exists; identify it by the absence of the number line, the blind-stamped mark on the rear board, and no price on the jacket flap.
I have a first edition of Blind Date — 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.