The points of issue
'First Edition' stated on the copyright page with the Borzoi/Knopf colophon. Cloth boards with gilt spine; octavo. Dust jacket carries the printed price. Concludes the Border Trilogy.
Is this the true first?
The US Knopf 1998 edition is the true first. A signed limited edition was also issued; the UK Picador edition is a separate first.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Identified by the stated 'First Edition' and the priced jacket; later printings remove the 'First Edition' statement. No diluting book-club edition of note.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Cities of the Plain a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: 'First Edition' stated on the copyright page with the Borzoi/Knopf colophon. Cloth boards with gilt spine; octavo. Dust jacket carries the printed price. Concludes the Border Trilogy.
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 Knopf 1998 edition is the true first. A signed limited edition was also issued; the UK Picador edition is a separate first.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Identified by the stated 'First Edition' and the priced jacket; later printings remove the 'First Edition' statement. No diluting book-club edition of note.
I have a first edition of Cities of the Plain — 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.