The points of issue
Copyright page states 'FIRST EDITION' with the number line ending in 1; issued in the Joan Kahn–Harper Novel of Suspense series; first-issue dust jacket carries the printed price on the front flap. Won the 1974 Edgar Award for Best Novel.
Is this the true first?
The US Harper & Row 1973 edition is the true first (the second Leaphorn novel). The UK edition follows separately.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
The stated 'FIRST EDITION', intact number line ending in 1, and priced first-issue jacket mark the trade first; book-club copies omit the price and number line and typically carry a blind-stamped board.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Dance Hall of the Dead a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Copyright page states 'FIRST EDITION' with the number line ending in 1; issued in the Joan Kahn–Harper Novel of Suspense series; first-issue dust jacket carries the printed price on the front flap. Won the 1974 Edgar Award for Best Novel.
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 Harper & Row 1973 edition is the true first (the second Leaphorn novel). The UK edition follows separately.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
The stated 'FIRST EDITION', intact number line ending in 1, and priced first-issue jacket mark the trade first; book-club copies omit the price and number line and typically carry a blind-stamped board.
I have a first edition of Dance Hall of the Dead — 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.