The points of issue
Random House New York, 1976, first printing. Cloth-backed boards; priced dust jacket. Copyright page states First Edition with the number line retaining the lowest figure on the first printing.
Is this the true first?
True first is the 1976 Random House hardcover.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Book club editions lack the priced jacket and usually carry a rear-board blind-stamp.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Flight to Canada a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Random House New York, 1976, first printing. Cloth-backed boards; priced dust jacket. Copyright page states First Edition with the number line retaining the lowest figure on the first printing.
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. True first is the 1976 Random House hardcover.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Book club editions lack the priced jacket and usually carry a rear-board blind-stamp.
I have a first edition of Flight to Canada — 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.