The points of issue
Alfred A. Knopf (Borzoi) hardcover, 1993, ISBN 0-679-41568-9, with the stated first edition and Knopf number line; Borzoi colophon on the copyright page. Homes's second novel. Confirm an unclipped jacket.
Is this the true first?
The US Knopf hardcover of 1993 is the true first.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Book-club copies typically omit the number line and original jacket price; later paperbacks (Vintage Contemporaries) are reprints.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of In a Country of Mothers a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Alfred A. Knopf (Borzoi) hardcover, 1993, ISBN 0-679-41568-9, with the stated first edition and Knopf number line; Borzoi colophon on the copyright page. Homes's second novel. Confirm an unclipped jacket.
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 Knopf hardcover of 1993 is the true first.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Book-club copies typically omit the number line and original jacket price; later paperbacks (Vintage Contemporaries) are reprints.
I have a first edition of In a Country of Mothers — 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.