The points of issue
Pocket Books US first edition (hardcover), 1992. First printing has a complete number line 10 through 1. Black boards with black quarter cloth, red endpapers; priced jacket on first-issue copies.
Is this the true first?
US Pocket Books hardcover is the true first.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Book club copies lack the full number line and the jacket price.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Gone South a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Pocket Books US first edition (hardcover), 1992. First printing has a complete number line 10 through 1. Black boards with black quarter cloth, red endpapers; priced jacket on first-issue copies.
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 Pocket Books hardcover is the true first.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Book club copies lack the full number line and the jacket price.
I have a first edition of Gone South — 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.