The points of issue
The Knopf trade issue states 'First Trade Edition' on the copyright page (not simply 'First Edition'); the trade dust jacket is priced.
Is this the true first?
The true first is generally the signed Franklin Library issue (1985), which carries a special author's introduction found in no other edition and precedes/coincides with the Knopf trade. The Knopf 'First Trade Edition' is the first trade printing, not the overall first.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Book-club edition is identified by 'Book Club Edition' on the jacket flap and the absence of a printed price.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Death Is a Lonely Business a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: The Knopf trade issue states 'First Trade Edition' on the copyright page (not simply 'First Edition'); the trade dust jacket is priced.
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 true first is generally the signed Franklin Library issue (1985), which carries a special author's introduction found in no other edition and precedes/coincides with the Knopf trade. The Knopf 'First Trade Edition' is the first trade printing, not the overall first.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Book-club edition is identified by 'Book Club Edition' on the jacket flap and the absence of a printed price.
I have a first edition of Death Is a Lonely Business — 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.