The points of issue
Quarter white cloth over green paper boards with gilt lettering to front board and spine; green endpapers; [14],3-324 pp.; number line present ending in 1 on the copyright page; dust-jacket painting by Russell Chatham, original price on the front flap.
Is this the true first?
US E.P. Dutton / Seymour Lawrence, New York, 1988 is the true first. The UK first followed from Collins, 1989.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Book-club copies lack the original flap price, carry a blind-stamp to the board, and do not show the number line ending in 1.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Dalva a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Quarter white cloth over green paper boards with gilt lettering to front board and spine; green endpapers; [14],3-324 pp.; number line present ending in 1 on the copyright page; dust-jacket painting by Russell Chatham, original price on the front flap.
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 E.P. Dutton / Seymour Lawrence, New York, 1988 is the true first. The UK first followed from Collins, 1989.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Book-club copies lack the original flap price, carry a blind-stamp to the board, and do not show the number line ending in 1.
I have a first edition of Dalva — 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.