The points of issue
First edition, first printing in red cloth lettered in blue on the spine. The copyright page lists no additional printings; later printings are noted on the copyright page. First-issue dust jacket carries the price on the front flap (price-clipped or unpriced jackets are later or compromised states).
Is this the true first?
US Dial Press is the true first; the UK edition (Hamish Hamilton) follows in the same period.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Later printings are identified by printing notations on the copyright page.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Follow Me Down a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First edition, first printing in red cloth lettered in blue on the spine. The copyright page lists no additional printings; later printings are noted on the copyright page. First-issue dust jacket carries the price on the front flap (price-clipped or unpriced jackets are later or compromised states).
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 Dial Press is the true first; the UK edition (Hamish Hamilton) follows in the same period.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Later printings are identified by printing notations on the copyright page.
I have a first edition of Follow Me Down — 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.