# Is "Continental Drift" by Russell Banks a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of Continental Drift by Russell Banks (Harper & Row, 1985) is identified by: Quarter gray cloth over brown paper boards; 'First Edition' stated on the copyright page together with a full number line beginning at 1; unclipped jacket priced at the original figure on the front flap. US Harper & Row, New York, 1985 is the true first.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- Quarter gray cloth over brown paper boards; 'First Edition' stated on the copyright page together with a full number line beginning at 1; unclipped jacket priced at the original figure on the front flap
- Publisher imprint reads Harper & Row
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | Russell Banks |
| Publisher | Harper & Row |
| Year | 1985 |
| True first | US edition |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | Quarter gray cloth over brown paper boards; 'First Edition' stated on the copyright page together with a full number line beginning at 1… |
| Book-club edition exists? | Yes |

## Points of issue
Quarter gray cloth over brown paper boards; 'First Edition' stated on the copyright page together with a full number line beginning at 1; unclipped jacket priced at the original figure on the front flap.

## Is this the true first?
US Harper & Row, New York, 1985 is the true first. The UK first followed from Hamish Hamilton, 1985.

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Book-club printings lack the original flap price and the complete number line beginning at 1, and typically carry a blind-stamp (small indentation) to the rear board.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *Continental Drift* by Russell Banks a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/continental-drift
CC BY 4.0. Part of the Canonical First-Edition Points of Issue dataset (https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/api/first-edition-titles.json). Last reviewed 2026-07-04.