The points of issue
First printing carries the Putnam convention of a complete number line including the digit 1 on the copyright page, with no stated later printing. Issued in a price-clipped-vulnerable dust jacket with the price printed on the front flap.
Is this the true first?
US Putnam edition is the true first.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Book club editions are typically slightly smaller, lack the number line, and have a blind stamp to the rear board with no price on the jacket flap.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Family Linen a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First printing carries the Putnam convention of a complete number line including the digit 1 on the copyright page, with no stated later printing. Issued in a price-clipped-vulnerable dust jacket with the price printed 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 Putnam edition is the true first.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Book club editions are typically slightly smaller, lack the number line, and have a blind stamp to the rear board with no price on the jacket flap.
I have a first edition of Family Linen — 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.