The points of issue
Hardcover bound in dark blue cloth with gilt spine lettering, issued in a printed dust jacket; "First Edition" stated on the copyright page with a full descending number line. Issued as New American Fiction #4. The first-state dust jacket lacks the publisher's imprint at the foot of the spine; Sun & Moon later produced small tipped-on/loosely-inserted paper imprints to remedy the omission, and a third-state jacket has the imprint printed in with added flap logos. A limited issue of 26 lettered copies signed by the author also exists.
Is this the true first?
The US Sun & Moon Press (Los Angeles) printing is the true first; it precedes the collected New York Trilogy and any UK appearance. The 26 signed lettered copies are the priority issue.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No book club edition; the later one-volume New York Trilogy collections (Penguin/Faber) are not the first appearance. The spine-imprint jacket states are the key collecting nuance.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of City of Glass a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Hardcover bound in dark blue cloth with gilt spine lettering, issued in a printed dust jacket; "First Edition" stated on the copyright page with a full descending number line. Issued as New American Fiction #4. The first-state dust jacket lacks the publisher's imprint at the foot of the spine; Sun & Moon later produced small tipped-on/loosely-inserted paper imprints to remedy the omission, and a third-state jacket has the imprint printed in with added flap logos. A limited issue of 26 lettered copies signed by the author also exists.
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 Sun & Moon Press (Los Angeles) printing is the true first; it precedes the collected New York Trilogy and any UK appearance. The 26 signed lettered copies are the priority issue.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
No book club edition; the later one-volume New York Trilogy collections (Penguin/Faber) are not the first appearance. The spine-imprint jacket states are the key collecting nuance.
I have a first edition of City of Glass — 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.