The points of issue
Hardcover bound in blue cloth with gilt spine lettering, issued in a printed dust jacket; "First Edition" stated on the copyright page with a full descending number line. Second volume of The New York Trilogy. A limited issue of 26 lettered copies signed by the author also exists.
Is this the true first?
The US Sun & Moon Press (Los Angeles) printing is the true first; it precedes the collected trilogy editions. The 26 signed lettered copies are the priority issue.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No book club edition; the collected New York Trilogy volumes (Penguin/Faber) are later and not the first appearance.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Ghosts a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Hardcover bound in blue cloth with gilt spine lettering, issued in a printed dust jacket; "First Edition" stated on the copyright page with a full descending number line. Second volume of The New York Trilogy. A limited issue of 26 lettered copies signed by the author also exists.
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 Sun & Moon Press (Los Angeles) printing is the true first; it precedes the collected trilogy editions. The 26 signed lettered copies are the priority issue.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
No book club edition; the collected New York Trilogy volumes (Penguin/Faber) are later and not the first appearance.
I have a first edition of Ghosts — 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.