The points of issue
First printing identified by the Harper first-printing code line on the copyright page and the first-issue jacket carrying its original price on the front flap. Mason's first novel.
Is this the true first?
US first edition (Harper & Row, New York). The UK edition (Chatto & Windus) follows in 1986.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Book-club editions are blind-stamped on the rear board and lack the flap price; the copyright code line changes on later printings.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of In Country a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First printing identified by the Harper first-printing code line on the copyright page and the first-issue jacket carrying its original price on the front flap. Mason's first novel.
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 first edition (Harper & Row, New York). The UK edition (Chatto & Windus) follows in 1986.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Book-club editions are blind-stamped on the rear board and lack the flap price; the copyright code line changes on later printings.
I have a first edition of In Country — 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.