The points of issue
Atheneum first printing identified by the number line on the copyright page containing a 1. Burgundy cloth with gilt lettering; original unclipped pictorial dust jacket with the publisher's price intact. A signed limited slipcased edition was also issued; the points above describe the standard trade first.
Is this the true first?
US first (Atheneum, New York).
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Book club edition typically lacks the full number line, carries a blind stamp on the rear board, and has a jacket with no printed price.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Blue Calhoun a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Atheneum first printing identified by the number line on the copyright page containing a 1. Burgundy cloth with gilt lettering; original unclipped pictorial dust jacket with the publisher's price intact. A signed limited slipcased edition was also issued; the points above describe the standard trade first.
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 first (Atheneum, New York).
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Book club edition typically lacks the full number line, carries a blind stamp on the rear board, and has a jacket with no printed price.
I have a first edition of Blue Calhoun — 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.