The points of issue
Harper & Row, 1977. The first printing states 'FIRST EDITION' on the copyright page with no added-printing notice. Slim octavo of about 76 pages, tan paper-covered boards backed in brown cloth/linen with copper spine titling; dust jacket carries the printed price and the 'Phoenix' woodcut on the front panel.
Is this the true first?
The US Harper & Row 1977 first edition. A short, intense companion to Pilgrim; firsts in fine jacket are uncommon.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Identified by the 'FIRST EDITION' statement; later printings add printing notices. No major book-club edition of note.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Holy the Firm a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Harper & Row, 1977. The first printing states 'FIRST EDITION' on the copyright page with no added-printing notice. Slim octavo of about 76 pages, tan paper-covered boards backed in brown cloth/linen with copper spine titling; dust jacket carries the printed price and the 'Phoenix' woodcut on the front panel.
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 Harper & Row 1977 first edition. A short, intense companion to Pilgrim; firsts in fine jacket are uncommon.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Identified by the 'FIRST EDITION' statement; later printings add printing notices. No major book-club edition of note.
I have a first edition of Holy the Firm — 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.