The points of issue
The first trade printing is identified by First printing stated on the copyright page with no later printings listed. The specific claim of a number line ending in 1 could not be confirmed and has been removed; verify the stated First printing line on the copyright page instead.
Is this the true first?
US Delacorte trade edition is the true first. The UK first followed from Weidenfeld and Nicolson in 1981. A separate Franklin Library leather-bound edition and a signed limited edition were also issued in 1981; do not confuse these with the trade first.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Book club printings exist alongside the Franklin Library issue; book club copies lack the First printing statement and are typically identified by a blind-stamped mark on the rear board.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Bread Upon the Waters a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: The first trade printing is identified by First printing stated on the copyright page with no later printings listed. The specific claim of a number line ending in 1 could not be confirmed and has been removed; verify the stated First printing line on the copyright page instead.
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 Delacorte trade edition is the true first. The UK first followed from Weidenfeld and Nicolson in 1981. A separate Franklin Library leather-bound edition and a signed limited edition were also issued in 1981; do not confuse these with the trade first.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Book club printings exist alongside the Franklin Library issue; book club copies lack the First printing statement and are typically identified by a blind-stamped mark on the rear board.
I have a first edition of Bread Upon the Waters — 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.