The points of issue
Large hardboard boxed set of 14 separately bound printed elements (cloth/board-bound books, broadsheets, pamphlets, an accordion-fold board). First printing identified by the complete number line printed on the inside of the box; Pantheon imprint.
Is this the true first?
US Pantheon boxed set is the true first; the UK Jonathan Cape edition followed. No earlier precedence elsewhere.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No book-club edition. Later printings are indicated by a shorter number line on the inside of the box.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Building Stories a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Large hardboard boxed set of 14 separately bound printed elements (cloth/board-bound books, broadsheets, pamphlets, an accordion-fold board). First printing identified by the complete number line printed on the inside of the box; Pantheon imprint.
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 Pantheon boxed set is the true first; the UK Jonathan Cape edition followed. No earlier precedence elsewhere.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
No book-club edition. Later printings are indicated by a shorter number line on the inside of the box.
I have a first edition of Building Stories — 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.