The points of issue
Copyright page states First Edition with a Random House number line whose lowest number is 2 (for example 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9). For Random House in this era, a line ending in 2 together with the First Edition statement marks the first printing; the loss of the First Edition statement, leaving the 2, indicates a later printing. First-issue jacket carries the printed retail price.
Is this the true first?
The US Random House hardcover is the true first; later UK and trade-paperback editions follow. The hardcover first of this debut collection is comparatively scarce.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No book-club edition; reprints appear as Riverhead and later Random House trade paperbacks with different pagination and ISBN.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of CivilWarLand in Bad Decline a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Copyright page states First Edition with a Random House number line whose lowest number is 2 (for example 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9). For Random House in this era, a line ending in 2 together with the First Edition statement marks the first printing; the loss of the First Edition statement, leaving the 2, indicates a later printing. First-issue jacket carries the printed retail price.
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 Random House hardcover is the true first; later UK and trade-paperback editions follow. The hardcover first of this debut collection is comparatively scarce.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
No book-club edition; reprints appear as Riverhead and later Random House trade paperbacks with different pagination and ISBN.
I have a first edition of CivilWarLand in Bad Decline — 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.