The points of issue
Harper & Row first hardcover, 1975. True first printing has the printing code ending in '1' at the foot of the last text page (p. 336) and 'E-241' code on the jacket; first-state binding has a purple cloth spine over gray paper-covered boards; dust jacket priced. Collects nineteen stories.
Is this the true first?
US Harper & Row first hardcover is the true first edition.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Later printings retain the 'First Edition' statement but show a code ending in a higher number on the last text page; book club copies lack the jacket price.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Deathbird Stories a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Harper & Row first hardcover, 1975. True first printing has the printing code ending in '1' at the foot of the last text page (p. 336) and 'E-241' code on the jacket; first-state binding has a purple cloth spine over gray paper-covered boards; dust jacket priced. Collects nineteen stories.
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 Harper & Row first hardcover is the true first edition.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Later printings retain the 'First Edition' statement but show a code ending in a higher number on the last text page; book club copies lack the jacket price.
I have a first edition of Deathbird Stories — 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.