The points of issue
First edition, first printing states 'First printing, 1977' on the copyright page (FSG convention) with no later-printing line. Bound in cloth/quarter-cloth; first-issue dust jacket with the Alaska-themed art and front-flap price.
Is this the true first?
US Farrar, Straus and Giroux (1977) is the true first—McPhee's landmark Alaska book. FSG's 'First printing, 1977' statement (removed on later printings) is the decisive point.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No prominent book-club issue; later FSG printings drop the 'First printing, 1977' line, and the Noonday/FSG paperbacks are obvious 'first thus.' The stated first-printing line is the check.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Coming into the Country a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First edition, first printing states 'First printing, 1977' on the copyright page (FSG convention) with no later-printing line. Bound in cloth/quarter-cloth; first-issue dust jacket with the Alaska-themed art and front-flap 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. US Farrar, Straus and Giroux (1977) is the true first—McPhee's landmark Alaska book. FSG's 'First printing, 1977' statement (removed on later printings) is the decisive point.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
No prominent book-club issue; later FSG printings drop the 'First printing, 1977' line, and the Noonday/FSG paperbacks are obvious 'first thus.' The stated first-printing line is the check.
I have a first edition of Coming into the Country — 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.