The points of issue
236 pp.; First Edition / First Printing stated on the copyright page; original price unclipped on the front jacket flap. ISBN 0-945575-20-3 (9780945575207). Brown's first novel (his second book).
Is this the true first?
The US Algonquin 1989 edition is the true first; Brown's first novel, following the 1988 story collection Facing the Music.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Later printings state additional printings; watch for clipped or price-stickered jackets that can mask reprints.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Dirty Work a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: 236 pp.; First Edition / First Printing stated on the copyright page; original price unclipped on the front jacket flap. ISBN 0-945575-20-3 (9780945575207). Brown's first novel (his second book).
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 Algonquin 1989 edition is the true first; Brown's first novel, following the 1988 story collection Facing the Music.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Later printings state additional printings; watch for clipped or price-stickered jackets that can mask reprints.
I have a first edition of Dirty Work — 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.